Esquel popular jury convicts man of sexual abuse in gender‑based violence case

In Esquel, Paraguay, a popular jury of about twelve citizens unanimously found a man guilty of sexual abuse with aggravated bodily injury in the context of gender‑based violence. The verdict, delivered after several hours of deliberation under the direction of criminal judge Dr. José Luis Ennis, follows accusations that the accused forced non‑consensual sexual acts on his partner in late November 2022 while intoxicated, and subsequently subjected the victims, including minor daughters, to verbal and physical aggression.

The prosecution, led by prosecutor Rafaella Riccono, presented evidence of a pattern of physical, psychological, economic, and sexual abuse, citing incidents such as the destruction of the victim’s phone to impede her work. The defendant was represented by private lawyer Marcelo Iván López. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for the same day as the verdict.