5 individuals linked to one in all Ecuador’s largest felony gangs have been jailed for the homicide of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio final 12 months.
Mr Villavicencio, a member of the nation’s nationwide meeting and an ex-journalist, was shot useless as he left a marketing campaign rally within the capital, Quito, final August.
Carlos Angulo, the alleged chief of the Los Lobos gang, and Laura Castilla had been sentenced to 34 years and eight months in jail for steering the hit.
Two males and a girl had been handed 12-year sentences by the court docket in Quito for aiding successful squad within the assault.
Prosecutors alleged that Angulo – extensively often known as The Invisible – ordered the hit from the Quito jail wherein he’s detained.
He denied the fees, claiming he was being made a “scapegoat” for the hit.
Castilla was left answerable for logistics for the hit. She allegedly provided weapons, cash and bikes to the boys to hold out the hit.
The others – Erick Ramirez, Victor Flores and Alexandra Chimbo – had been accused of serving to the hit squad observe Mr Villavicencio’s actions.
Greater than 70 individuals gave proof throughout the trial, together with a key witness who stated the gang had been provided greater than $200,000 (£154,000) to kill Mr Villavicencio.
A crusading anti-corruption activist, Mr Villavicencio had been one of many few candidates to allege hyperlinks between organised crime and authorities officers in Ecuador.
Within the weeks main as much as the election, the politician had acquired loss of life threats and been given a safety element. However he continued to marketing campaign and was gunned down by a gaggle of assailants on 9 August exterior a college within the north of Quito.
Prosecutors stated throughout the trial that one of many males concerned within the assassination was shot useless in a confrontation with police on the scene.
Six different males – all Colombian nationals – had been later arrested in reference to the killing, however had been subsequently discovered murdered at El Litoral jail, the place they had been being held in pre-trial detention.
A separate investigation into who contracted Los Lobos to hold out the hit stays ongoing, prosecutors have stated.
Mr Villavicencio’s widow, Veronica Sarauz, welcomed the ruling. However she stated it solely marked the start of an extended highway to find out the complete story behind her husband’s loss of life.
Ecuador has traditionally been a comparatively protected and secure nation in Latin America, however crime has shot up in recent times, fuelled by the rising presence of Colombian and Mexican drug cartels, which have infiltrated native felony gangs.
The Los Lobos gang led by Angulo is alleged to have deep connections to the highly effective Jalisco New Era cartel in Mexico.
