# Legal proceedings and violence in Colombia

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/legal-proceedings-and-violence-in-colombia
> Updated: 2026-10-20T00:23:11.000Z. Sources: 40. Developments: 2.

Legal developments in Colombia have involved both homicide convictions and subsequent threats against legal representatives. In Bogotá, a transitional circuit court convicted Juan Carlos Suárez Ortiz and Ricardo Rafael González Castro of aggravated homicide for the 2025 killing of Jaime Esteban Moreno Jaramillo, a university student. The court rejected defense arguments for lesser charges, citing the coordinated nature of the assault.

In the Sucre region, legal victories regarding a 2018 massacre have led to intimidation. Following the sentencing of William Martínez Santamaría to 27 years in prison for ordering the deaths of three brothers during a land dispute, lawyer Yessika Hoyos Morales and members of the National Movement of Victims of State Crimes (Movice) reported receiving death threats. These intimidations included messages warning them to ‘buy coffins’ as the case awaits a final decision from the Supreme Court of Justice.

## Claims

- The court issued a guilty verdict against Juan Carlos Suárez and Ricardo González for the homicide of Jaime Esteban Moreno. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Security videos showed Juan Carlos Suárez was the first to physically attack the student. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The attack occurred in the early hours of October 31, 2025. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Ricardo González Castro struck the victim in the back, leaving him defenseless. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The prosecution requested a prison sentence exceeding 37 years for the defendants. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Severe cranial injuries caused by the blows led to the victim's death. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The judge rejected the defense's argument that the intent was only to cause injury. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-20: Lawyer and activists threatened following Sucre massacre conviction

Lawyer Yessika Hoyos and Movice activists face death threats following the conviction of William Martínez Santamaría for the 2018 massacre of three brothers in Sucre, Colombia.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lawyer-and-activists-threatened-following-sucre-massacre-conviction

### 2026-10-19: Neuquén jury convicts Roberto Sánchez for transfemicide

A jury in Neuquén, Argentina, convicted Roberto Daniel Sánchez of the transfemicide of Azul Semeñenko, citing cruelty and gender identity hatred.

38 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bogot-court-convicts-two-for-killing-universidad-de-los-andes-student

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Cite as: Legal proceedings and violence in Colombia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/legal-proceedings-and-violence-in-colombia