Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub-Editor: Joana Mihajlovska, Agency: Newsflash
A trial against a man has started for the fatal beating and strangling of his underage ex-girlfriend after she refused to get back together with him when he picked her up from school.
The trial against Luis Tobias Zuchelli, 21, for the murder of the 15-year-old schoolgirl started at the Criminal Court (TOC) in the city of La Matanza today (4th May) via video conference.
He is suspected of murdering his ex-girlfriend Emilce Ayala when he was 19 in the partido of Isidro Casanova in the city of La Matanza in the Argentine province of Buenos Aires on 29th August 2019.
Her body was found inside the home of Zuchelli’s grandmother where he was living and where he reportedly took Emilce after picking her up from school.
He reportedly took her to a room on the property that was still under construction where he hoped to rekindle their relationship after their beak-up.
However, when Emilce refused to get back together, Zuchelli allegedly fatally beat her and hit her with a stick before strangling her.
The suspect’s grandmother reportedly called the police after Zuchelli told her he “made a big mistake with Emilce” and found her body.
One of the investigators said Zuchelli “was totally sure that if she [Emilce] did not want to retake the relationship he was going to kill her”.
Zuchelli left the house before the authorities arrived but he was arrested the following day when he was spotted walking on the street and confessed to the crimes against the teen.
A prosecutor said: “He [Zuchelli] admits the incident happened and his personal responsibility placing himself as the author.”
He added: “He detailed the motive (a discussion in their relationship), the means (blows with fists, a stick and strangling) and gives evidence of the violence inflicted upon a girl aged 15, of small complexion, which invariably and irrefutably points to aggravated murder.”
The defence claims the suspect was in the heat of violent emotion when the alleged murder happened and should be released from prison.
However, the prosecution is asking for life imprisonment as Zuchelli’s confession proves he was perfectly conscious of his actions when the 15-year-old was killed.
The victim’s mother Julia Soledad Morel told the court her daughter had never told her Zuchelli was violent with her but she believes some friends may know something she does not.
However, she added that Zuchelli had been “accosting her [Emilce] in the days up to the murder”.
A verdict is expected on Friday 7th May.
The age of consent in Argentina is 18, but legal action can be taken in some cases against adults who engage in sexual activities with minors aged 13 to 16 when they are deemed exploitative and a complaint is filed by the victim or their legal guardian or parent. It is unclear if the defendant has been charged with any sexual offences on top of the aggravated murder charge.
