From Villa Gesell
cloudy monday in Gesell. Lots of movement downtown. Tourists of all ages walk in front of the tree turned altar which is located next to the exact point where a gang of rugbiers killed, almost two years ago, Fernando Baez Sosa. Few are the ones who continue along Avenida 3. “What happened to him? Was he lost?” asks a very young girl to her father, pointing to a portrait of the young man. Dad lets out a “yes” and takes her by the hand. “I think they killed him because he was Peruvian,” a young man tells his friends. “Where did they kill him? Here?!” Expresses an incredulous man. The women of Justice by Fernando-Villa Gesell and other people committed to the cause answer questions, give explanations and handouts, and invite the event to be held this Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in place, on a new anniversary of the murder that shocked the city and the entire country.
The Brick is closed. “Because of Fernando”, is heard in a street conversation. On the corner, on the heights, there is a police checkpoint that did not exist before. At noon, in the rain, sitting at a table in the Cúrcuma restaurant -where the ice cream parlor used to be where Fernando bought his last ice cream-, there are three women gathered. Are Sabrina Pereira, of Justice by Fernando-Villa Gesell; Ado Sosa, aunt of teenager; Y Karina Nella, a woman from Pergamino who deeply empathized with the case to the point that Fernando’s initials were tattooed on her right arm, with wings and a halo. They get together to remove the offerings from the altar, with the intention of preparing it for the interreligious service on Tuesday, and leaving it as Graciela Sosa, Fernando’s mother, wants it. Some are concerned that the shrine — created after a 10-year-old girl left a letter here — is nearly empty. They calm them down. It is that other times offerings have disappeared; there is a bid with some merchants on the block who want to protect the “good image” of the city. Also with the Municipality.
When Karina got a tattoo, her family asked her why she did it, if she didn’t know the victim. “It’s my skin and it’s my feelings,” he replied. Now, with a warm voice, he announces to the tourists that Silvino Báez and Graciela, Fernando’s parents, are in Gesell and will be at the event on Tuesday. “It is very important that they accompany”, asks Karina, especially the young people. It is the first time that both arrive at the scene of the crime. Ado, Karina and Sabrina agree on something: they needed to be here. Because their son was killed here. were a few words of Julieta Rossi, the boy’s girlfriend, the ones who finally convinced them. She told them: “Fernando is not going to rest until his parents arrive at Gesell.”
After 5 pm, Sabrina and Ado meet again around the tree to get it ready. Silvana Perhauc, also from the local group, and people who come from Buenos Aires and belong to Facebook groups that demand justice for Fernando join. They cover the tree with black friselina and begin to fill it with rosaries, holy cards, photos left by tourists and sent to be printed by Fernando’s relatives from Paraguay. Soon they will hang a flag. The movement that is generated now is even greater than in the previous hours. A criminal lawyer does not stop asking questions about the investigation. A man from Mendoza remembers that he was in Gesell with his teenage son that day in January 2020. He adds complexity to the subject: “The kids who did it also cause me pain. They never measured the damage they did or how they ruined their lives. calls for reflection”. Young people don’t talk much. They look stunned, disturbed. There is also talk around the altar about the recent case of Braian Cuitiño, beaten to death outside a bar in Pilar.
The support seen on the street is unanimous, but it’s not like that in the shops on the block. Not everyone exhibits the poster that calls for “Justice for Fernando, murdered in Gesell.” “Everything that had to be said was said two years ago,” says the woman who attends the kiosk diagonally to the episode. Something similar is raised by the young woman who receives those who enter the Hola Ola hostel, where Fernando stayed that summer, a few blocks from the center: “Divino el pibe, but that’s it, it’s over. ” “It seems that it was the only place in the country where something like this happens”, says Clara, annoyed, as she folds shorts in the local Quiara.”The responsibility lies with the boys and a system that does not work. Dancers have to have a containment space and call the Police. A special that lowers aggressiveness and not that it is aggressive,” she says. Antonella is 25 years old. She is an employee of a bazaar. When the murder took place, she worked in a hotel. She remembers that many people canceled reservations. Perhaps that explains the differences between the merchants. But she is very sure that “it does not serve” to deny what happened.
Sabrina and Silvana, who spent entire nights at the gates of Le Brique to ask for its definitive closure, and that all 18 are convened in the sanctuary, say they feel alone with the claim in the city. And that they received threats. “Many cases have happened to us and Gesell is still deaf and dumb. That 2020 was terrible and there were other cases of boys who we don’t know if they are alive or dead,” says Sabrina.
The oral trial against the eight rugbiers who are detained accused of killing Fernando will begin on January 2, 2023. Days before traveling to Gesell, Silvino told Page 12: “I think it will do us good. We are going to have a difficult time, but we hope to gain strength because a very difficult year is coming, where we have to prepare to testify for our son: who he was, his life and how it ended” . When the clock strikes 4:44 this January 18 — the time Fernando was attacked — Silvino and Graciela plan to light a candle and say a rosary at the altar.
the trial
Fabián Améndola, one of the lawyers from Burlando’s studio, who defends the family, tells this newspaper that, along with other of his colleagues, he will attend the act. Asked about the fact that the trial begins three years after the crime, he explains: “If compared to what is the usual average in the province and in the country, the same thing happens in the Capital, we are not talking about a long period of instruction before the trial. Even having been affected in part by the outbreak of the pandemic. I do not consider it an unreasonable time”. The date was set by the Oral Criminal Court (TOC) 1 of Dolores, made up of judges María Claudia Castro, Christian Rabaia and Emiliano Lázzari. More than 130 witnesses will testify over 22 days .
Luciano Pertossi, Ciro Pertossi, Lucas Pertossi, Ayrton Viollaz, Máximo Thomsen, Enzo Comelli, Matías Benicelli, y Blas Cinalli son los eight rugbiers accused of doubly aggravated homicide for their commission by treachery and for the premeditated competition of two or more people. In addition, the criminal responsibilities of all of them for the injuries suffered by five of Fernando’s friends who were with him when he was murdered will be discussed at the trial. “If what has been charged so far is maintained, the eight would face life imprisonment. From what is heard, one may receive a lower rating,” says Améndola.
During the investigation, two defendants accused of being necessary participants were dismissed: Juan Pedro Guarino and Alejo Milanesi, who will be called as witnesses. Regarding potential responsibilities of Le Brique, officials or the Police, the lawyer clarifies: “The oral trial is now limited to the participation of the group of detainees and to clarify the circumstances of death. There is no case where the staff or owners of Le Brique are investigated. This does not mean that during the hearing elements do not arise that lead to the need to open a new investigation. It will be seen during the course.”
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