Life sentences upheld for Uma Aguilera murder in Lomas de Zamora
Buenos Aires Court of Appeal confirmed life sentences against three members of the gang that shot dead a nine-year-old girl during a car robbery in January 2024.
Life sentences upheld for Uma Aguilera murder in Lomas de Zamora
A provincial appellate court upheld life sentences handed down against three of five members of a criminal gang that killed a girl during a robbery in the suburban area. The ruling was signed by judges Mario Eduardo Kohan and María Florencia Budiño, who rejected the defence arguments.
The incident occurred on 22 January 2024, when the group stole a car and minutes later intercepted the vehicle being driven by Eduardo Aguilera. His nine-year-old daughter Uma was travelling in the back seat. The robbers, armed with pistols, demanded the vehicle be handed over and fired shots at the occupants despite them offering no resistance whatsoever. A bullet struck the girl, who died hours later.
According to the ruling, which news agency Noticias Argentinas had access to, the victim's parents provided clear and compelling testimony about the tragic incident. The 34-page judicial documentation indicates that the attackers knew that their actions could cause the death of the people inside the car.
Ariel Acuña Vega, Axel Emiliano Rojas—nicknamed "Pelusa"—and Miguel Pastor Romero Molinas—known as "Patoto"—were found responsible for murder qualified by shooting in a populated area, acting as a group and having the assistance of a teenager. The maximum sentence therefore remained unchanged.
Nahuel Santiago Coman, who received five years as a secondary participant in the aggravated robbery involving carrying a firearm, also had his appeal rejected. Meanwhile, "Paraguayo" Romero Molinas, who was a minor when he participated in the crime, had previously accepted an expedited trial that resulted in twelve years in prison.
The incident generated public shock not only because of the age of the victim, but also because her father was a Federal Police officer assigned to protect Patricia Bullrich, who was then the Minister of Security.
Source: Alerta Digital
Source: Google News AR — Buenos Aires