In a sensational trial in Argentina on Tuesday, three police officers were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a black youth. The judges found evidence that in 2021 they had murdered Lucas González, a then 17-year-old boy from the outskirts of Buenos Aires, while he was out with three friends after a soccer training session in the south of the capital.
The suspects were “Aggravated murder” including “intent, racial hatred and abuse of power”, as well as the attempted murder of the victim’s other three companions. Six other police officers were sentenced to four to eight years for falsifying evidence and torture. Here too, the judges gave “race hatred” as the reason.
According to investigations, the four friends were sitting in a stationary car to buy a drink when a camouflaged police car approached them. Since they didn’t live nearby and didn’t know who they were dealing with, they drove off again. The police then opened fire and hit the 17-year-old in the head.
🚨 PERPETUA detained before the city police for the asesinato of Lucas González, jugador de las inferiores de Barracas Central, in 2021.
Fueron condenados por homicidio agravado con dio racial.
Justice. 🙏🏼🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/SRLpOTmg3u
—Ataque Futbolero (@AtaqueFutbolero) July 11, 2023
Tied up and threatened with death
Another prisoner managed to escape while the other two were thrown to the ground, handcuffed and beaten. “We are young people who love football, nothing more,” said one of the victims. The police officers called him a “black bastard” and threatened to “shoot him in the head” like his friend.
The plaintiff’s lawyer described the verdict to journalists as “historic for Argentina”. There should be “never again” a case like that of Lucas González. It is a great success that the young people and their parents are recognized as “victims of institutional violence (…) because of racial hatred”. (sda/afp)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
