The oral and public trial for the murder of María Fernanda Benítez, a 17-year-old teenager found dead and burned on May 31, 2025 in Coronel Oviedo, was suspended for the second time. The new start date remains open until the Court of Appeals analyzes a recusal filed against the Sentencing Tribunal.
The first trial was scheduled for April 27, but did not occur due to the absence of lawyer Tatiana Duarte, defender of Kiara Melgarejo Rolón, who presented a medical certificate. The second attempt, scheduled for May 18, was interrupted after lawyer Bernardo Villalba, defender of Franco Acosta Céspedes, recused the three judges of the panel — Luis Ovelar, Andrea Riquelme and Víctor Vera Valloud — on the grounds of violation of due process in the first summons.
According to the defense, the tribunal had already convened in the hearing room on April 27, which, under the Criminal Procedure Code, would constitute the start of the trial. Prosecutor Fermín Segovia stated that the defenses seek to “prolong the judicial process,” but guaranteed that the tribunal will eventually issue a sentence.
The victim's father, Leonardo Benítez, harshly criticized the situation and said that “justice is a circus.” He announced that, at the next summons, he will go dressed as a clown to protest. He also called for the conviction of the father of the teenager identified as the main suspect, for alleged help to his son in the crime, and demanded the maximum penalty for all involved.
Five adults are accused: Kiara Melgarejo Rolón (instigation and complicity); Armando Silva and Karen Villar, the teenager's parents (obstruction of criminal prosecution and failure to provide assistance); Ricardo Villamayor, the minor's father-in-law (same charges); and Franco Acosta Céspedes, pharmacy owner, for allegedly supplying abortifacient medications. The teenager, the main suspect, awaits a separate trial in another instance.