This morning, prosecutor José Mana decided to increase the charges against Néstor Aguilar Soto, a 21-year-old accused of murdering his friend and classmate, Catalina Gutiérrez, at the Faculty of Architecture. In addition to the homicide charge, he added two aggravating factors: premeditation and gender-based violence.
If found guilty, Soto faces the possibility of life imprisonment. This morning, attorneys Gastón Schoenfeld and Esteban Trucco were present to provide his legal defense.
Prosecutor Mana met with Catalina’s parents, Eleonora and Marcelo Gutiérrez, along with their lawyers, Vice Mayor Javier Pretto, and Santiago Capdevila. Pretto has been a longtime friend of the Gutiérrez family, offering support during this incredibly painful time since Catalina’s body was discovered in a Renault Clio in an empty lot in the Kennedy neighborhood.
Although the investigation remains under secrecy, it has emerged that the evidence is strong, and the main elements of the case have been clarified. Catalina had gone out last Wednesday for a gathering with friends in the city center.
It is believed she stopped by Soto’s house, where the crime occurred. The autopsy revealed that Catalina died from strangulation and also sustained multiple bruises. These details were conveyed to her parents by prosecutor Mana, who shared that they are struggling to find peace or explanation for what happened.
After leaving the prosecutor’s office, Miguel, Catalina’s father, made heartfelt remarks, stating, “A message to parents of teenagers—it’s not just about protecting them from criminals who steal phones, but also about understanding who our children are spending time with.”
Catalina’s mother expressed that she had never noticed any signs of harassment, emphasizing that Soto was just a classmate who sometimes visited their home. “When you attend university, you trust your classmates,” she explained.
The specifics of the investigation that led to the aggravating factors of premeditation and gender violence cannot be disclosed due to the ongoing secrecy of the case.
Premeditation implies the act was carried out with certainty and posed no risk to the perpetrator. Gender-based violence refers to the crime being committed against Catalina simply because she was a woman.
The case will remain with the current prosecutor, as there was no romantic relationship between Soto and Catalina; they were merely friends and classmates.
Source: https://www.perfil.com/noticias/cordoba/femicidio-de-catalina-gutierrez-un-cambio-de-caratula-que-coloca-al-acusado-ante-una-posible-prision-perpetua.phtml
