Ecuador Resumes Trial Preparations in Fernando Villavicencio Assassination Case

The criminal court in Quito has scheduled the continuation of the evaluation and preparatory hearing for the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Judge Geovanny Freire set the sessions for August 3‑7, 2026, at the North Judicial Complex in Pichincha, citing the case’s complexity and the number of defendants.

Seven individuals are facing charges: former minister José Serrano, Xavier Jordán, ex‑assembly member Ronny Aleaga, former health‑justice official Daniel Salcedo, Luis Arboleda (alias Gordo Luis), Esteban Aguilar (alias Lobo Menor), and gang leader Wilmer Chavarría (alias Pipo). Prosecutor Ana Hidalgo presented 42 pieces of evidence, outlining phases of planning, execution, and cover‑up. The judge urged all parties to attend the scheduled dates to avoid further delays.