Trial at the Neonatal: what did the main figures say after the historic verdict

The  historic verdict in the trial of Córdoba's Maternal Neonatal Hospital sparked all kinds of reactions.

After the life sentence for the main defendant,nurse Brenda Agüero, the mothers of the five murdered newborn babies said they felt relieved.

Meanwhile,  the only acquitted individual, former Córdoba Health Minister Diego Cardozo, stated that "the popular jury interpreted the evidence."

In addition to the sentence against Agüero and Cardozo's acquittal, Córdoba's judiciary found former director Liliana Asís guilty, as well as four other former officials. All will remain free.

The deaths of the babies occurred between March and June 2022.

The verdict was announced after nine and a half hours of deliberation by the court along with the eight popular jurors who participated in an extensive process that began on January 6 and unfolded over 57 hearings, during which 99 witnesses testified.

The nurse became the first serial killer convicted by Córdoba's judiciary in its criminal history.

Neonatal: what the mothers of the murdered babies said

Vanessa Cáceres, the mother of Francisco, the first baby who died on March 18, 2022, stated that her son "now rests in peace."

Meanwhile, Isabella, the daughter of  Gabriela González, was the second baby in whom puncture marks were detected; she survived after fighting for 11 days. "We came seeking justice, that was what we wanted," she said.

Damaris Bustamante, the mother of Benjamín, who was born on Saturday, April 23, 2022, in the morning and lived only ten hours, listened to the entire verdict while looking at a photo of the baby on her mobile phone.

"God gave me strength to make it this far. It has been endless. Benja is at peace. But I want Cardozo to be held responsible as well, he can't be left out like this," she said.

Neonatal: Diego Cardozo's statement

"I believe the popular jury interpreted the concrete evidence, there is nothing new. What I said here is the same as what I said almost three years ago, and in this regard I never entered into controversy, especially not now," stated the former Córdoba Health Minister.

Cardozo, who was charged with omission of public official duties and aggravated cover-up and was acquitted, also said that he felt "alone" due to the lack of support from Córdoba's political spectrum.

He also indicated that his cancer, which has been affecting him, worsened during the trial.

It is worth noting that  the Secretary of Legal Affairs, Alejandro Gauto; the Neonatal Deputy Director, Claudia Rinhelgeim; the Head of Nursing, Alicia Ariza; and the ICU Coordinator, María Luján, were also acquitted.