A man in homeless situation was beaten and set on fire by three killers aged between 10 and 14 years, last Thursday in the southern area of Rosario, and passed away due to the severity of the injuries on Sunday night at the Clemente Álvarez Emergency Hospital.
The victim, Hugo Orlando Silva, 45 years old, managed to recount part of what happened to the doctors who treated him at the health center. He mentioned that at least two individuals began to kick him while he was sleeping, then sprayed him with a flammable liquid, similar to a Molotov cocktail, and set his body on fire, causing severe burns on a large part of his skin.
The case is being investigated by the Homicide Prosecutor, Luis Schiappa Pietra, who has already ordered the review of cameras and the taking of statements by the Homicide Division of the Police Investigations. Meanwhile, the body was transferred to the Legal Medical Institute of Rosario for the corresponding autopsy.
According to the information gathered by the investigators, Silva was resting at Spiro 300 bis, between the Tablada and Villa Manuelita neighborhoods, when he was beaten while on the ground and then set on fire.
In his statement, the victim indicated that he didn't know his strikers, who left a burned bottle at the scene, which is presumed to have been used to carry out the attack.
El hombre asesinado por los jóvenes asesinos.
The man was immediately transferred to the Provincial Hospital and, due to the severity of his injuries, was referred to the Clemente Álvarez Emergency Hospital, where he was admitted with burns on his face, arms, chest, and back.
From the beginning, he was admitted to the intensive care unit, intubated, and with compromised airways. Despite the efforts of the professionals who treated him, they couldn't save his life.
Due to their age, those responsible for the brutal crime were considered unimputable according to the law and, therefore, released.
The Juvenile Judge, Alejandro Cardinale, who has extensive experience in the judicial field, acknowledged that this is "a novel case, as is the modality, type, and age of those involved, so the State's response must also be".
Upon learning of this crime, the Minister of Justice, Mariano Cúneo Libarona, strongly criticized the Justice system through a social media post. "THE POLICE ARREST THEM, THE JUSTICE RELEASES THEM", he titled.
"Three killers under 16 years old set a homeless man on fire with a Molotov cocktail while he was sleeping. Although they were arrested by the police, the Justice is obliged to release them for being under 16 years old", explained the minister.
He concluded: "It is necessary for Congress to approve the Law to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 years once and for all".
