The prosecutor Leonel Gómez Barbella has called for the case against Gastón Mercanzini, currently incarcerated in Marcos Paz prison, to go to trial. Mercanzini had previously been convicted for throwing a bottle at President Javier Milei on December 10. However, he now faces new charges for allegedly stealing casino chips on June 18, 2023. According to the prosecutor’s report, Mercanzini unlawfully took two $1,000 chips from a gaming table at the Buenos Aires Casino and attempted to steal eight more from different tables.
On that night, he first approached the “Craps 2” table and discreetly grabbed the chips, leaving the area before attempting to steal more chips from another table. When a nearby player noticed and warned him, Mercanzini abandoned the attempted theft but then moved to a different table, where he requested cash while seizing five more chips belonging to another player. The casino staff saw his actions and insisted on the return of the chips.
When called for questioning about this new accusation, Mercanzini admitted to having issues with alcohol and drugs, explaining that he had been drinking on Father’s Day and had not seen his children. Despite this admission, he chose not to answer any questions.
Addiction played a significant role in his defense during the case related to the attack on Milei. He admitted to his actions during a plea bargain and agreed to undergo treatment. While he acknowledged being intoxicated during the incidents, he did not provide evidence to support his claim, which ultimately did not mitigate his legal responsibility.
Mercanzini gained notoriety after he threw a bottle at President Milei while the latter was traveling from Congress to the Casa Rosada, injuring one of his bodyguards. Media outlets subsequently circulated his social media profile, revealing photos with prominent members of the opposition and disparaging comments about the current government. He later stated that he created a new social media profile to avoid arrest, claiming his actions were driven by frustration with the political situation.
The day after the incident, Mercanzini turned himself in, sporting a cut on his forehead. He expressed regret, saying he never intended to harm anyone and insisted he had no political affiliation, asserting that his connections to political figures were merely personal.
In a summary trial, he acknowledged his responsibility for the bottle incident, receiving a sentence of one and a half years in prison, adding to a previous three-year conviction for domestic violence. These sentences led to a combined total of three and a half years in prison.
Now, the prosecution is seeking additional sentencing for the casino theft. The prosecutor argued that Mercanzini did not provide any viable defense against the charges and that the circumstances showed clear intent to commit theft. The prosecutor also highlighted Mercanzini’s previous convictions while requesting the continuation of his detention.
At the time of the bottle attack on Milei, Mercanzini was out on parole due to his earlier conviction for various crimes, including sexual abuse and gender-based violence. Despite the prosecutor’s orders for further detention, the presiding judge denied this request. The appellate court also ruled against his re-arrest, suggesting no substantial change in his behavior warranted such action.
Overall, the legal proceedings surrounding Mercanzini reflect an intertwined narrative of personal struggle and legal issues, with significant attention on the events that led up to both the attack on a prominent political figure and his actions in a gambling establishment. Further developments are expected as the cases progress in the justice system.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/judiciales/2024/07/22/piden-enviar-a-juicio-al-agresor-de-milei-durante-su-asuncion-por-haberse-robado-fichas-en-el-casino/
