Salta prosecutors seek to reopen investigation into French tourists' murders

The Public Prosecutor's Office of Salta has requested the annulment of previous rulings that dismissed Walter Lasi from the investigation into the 2011 murders of French tourists Cassandre Bouvier and Houria Moumni. The case involves the deaths that occurred in the Quebrada de San Lorenzo.

Prosecutors argue that the evidence was evaluated in an “arbitrary” manner. They claim that similar elements—including genetic evidence, proximity to the crime scene, weapons, and contradictory statements—were used to incriminate other suspects, such as Santos Clemente Vera and Daniel Vilte Laxi, but were interpreted as exculpatory for Lasi without sufficient justification.

The legal challenge is based on the doctrine of “arbitrariness” and “apparent res judicata,” asserting that the previous decisions were flawed due to irregularities. The prosecution also noted concerns regarding evidence that may have been planted to divert the investigation and allegations of coercion during the detention of one of the accused.