Anthonieska Avilés sentenced to 38 years for murder of teenager in Aibonito
Avilés pleaded guilty in Aibonito Court after reaching an agreement with the prosecution. Judge Juan Reyes sentenced her to 38 years and one day in prison.
Last-minute agreement: Avilés pleads guilty to death of Gabriela Nicole Pratts Rosario
In an unexpected turn last Tuesday, Anthonieska Avilés Cabrera pleaded guilty to the murder of teenager Gabriela Nicole Pratts Rosario moments before trial was to begin in Aibonito Court, according to elnuevodia.com. Judge Juan Reyes imposed a total sentence of 38 years and one day in prison.
The parties agreed to reclassify the original first-degree murder charge to second-degree murder with mitigating circumstances. Avilés also accepted responsibility for a violation of the Weapons Law.
"She was the one who took Gabriela's life"
Before learning her sentence, Avilés addressed the judge to defend her mother: "I maintain that my mother is innocent," she said, in reference to Elvia Cabrera Rivera, who was found guilty of the same crime. She added that "all the witnesses in her trial have lied".
Prosecutor Myriam Nieves emphasised that the guilty plea amounts to Avilés acknowledging "that yes, she was the one who took Gabriela's life". "Therefore, we have no doubt that the two of them perpetrated this vile crime and today we finish delivering justice to 'Lela'", Nieves stated, using the nickname by which Pratts Rosario's loved ones knew her.
The victim's family, between grief and acceptance
The sister of the murdered young woman, Lismary Torres Rosario, lamented Avilés's conduct in court. "At least I expected her to regret Gabriela's death, because for all these acts that she committed, even though Gabriela is not present, she deserved an apology," she expressed.
Torres Rosario also addressed the victim's mother: "That woman who is there deserves to be asked for an apology. They took half of our hearts. She was our life. She was our reason for the three of us staying together, with no one else around... May God take care of each person's heart and may time speak if it has to speak."
Pratts Rosario's mother, Lisandra Rosario, was able to enter the courtroom after recovering from an emotional incident. She was accompanied by the head prosecutor of the Department of Justice, Juan Ramos García.
Justice consulted the family before the agreement
Secretary of Justice Lourdes Gómez explained in written statements that the decision to proceed with the agreement took into account that "reliving the circumstances of her death imposes a difficult burden for a family that already faced a first trial". She also noted that several key witnesses in the case are minors.
"We have spoken with Gabriela Nicole's family before making any decision," Gómez stated. "This decision does not minimise in any way the gravity of this crime, nor does it change what we have maintained from day one."
Ms María Sáez, one of the defence lawyers, acknowledged the weight of the process: "We fought hard, but also in this case so many things have happened, such as the abandonment in which the Justice system has left this child."
A day of long waits and tension in court
The hearing was marked by multiple interruptions. Avilés Cabrera and her lawyers arrived in court later than the scheduled time to begin the evidence presentation. Upon entering, the young woman appeared visibly distressed and was comforted by her companions, whilst some family members wept in the gallery.
Judge Reyes ordered a first recess without stating a reason, following a brief conversation with the parties. An hour later, prosecutors and lawyers left the courtroom together and returned minutes later. The judge then announced that the parties would meet with him in his office, and ordered a recess until 2:00 in the afternoon.
Upon returning, lawyer Athelyn Jiménez sought to keep Avilés calm, who appeared nervous, whilst the bailiffs provided her with water. It was not until 3:06 in the afternoon that the judge was able to resume the hearing and the parties announced the agreement.
Avilés Cabrera was represented by lawyers from the Society for Legal Assistance (SAL) Rocío Revelles, María Sáez and Athelyn Jiménez, with the presence of SAL's deputy director, Mario Mayo. The Public Ministry was represented by prosecutors Belinda Brignoni, Jackeline Pizarro, Silda Rubio and Myriam Nieves.
Sentence days after her mother's sentencing
Avilés Cabrera's guilty plea came less than a week after her mother, Elvia Cabrera Rivera, was sentenced to 102 years in prison following an extensive trial for the same murder.
Source: Google News PR — Crime