The oral trial for the premeditated murder of student Jeremy, which took place two years ago in Lota, began with setbacks at the Concepción Criminal Court. Two of the three defendants appeared at the hearing without their national ID cards, causing a one-hour delay in the start of the proceedings.
According to reports from biobiochile.cl, the court had to resort to fingerprinting to verify the identities of the accused. Due to this procedure, the hearing did not begin until 9:30 a.m., an hour later than originally scheduled.
The courtroom reached maximum capacity on the first day. The gallery was filled with the victim's family, the families of the defendants, and the student's former classmates, alongside witnesses, forensic experts, and police personnel.
Battle over sentencing
The Prosecution and the plaintiffs are seeking the maximum penalty allowed under the Adolescent Criminal Responsibility Law. Prosecutors have requested a 10-year sentence in a closed correctional facility for those responsible for the crime.
Laura Sánchez, the attorney representing the victim's mother, expressed her determination during the opening day. “We will present the evidence and testimony to prove the involvement and responsibility of all three defendants” in the homicide, the lawyer told Radio Bío Bío.
Meanwhile, the defense is seeking an acquittal for their clients. Their legal strategy may focus on arguing that the incident was a brawl or that the defendants acted in self-defense.
The judicial process is expected to continue throughout this week. The court will evaluate the forensic reports and testimonies presented to determine the criminal liability of the three youths involved in the Lota case.
