The judge ordered pretrial detention for Aleaga and Salcedo, while Jordán and Serrano will appear in Miami
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Judge María Daniela Ayala convened the hearing for the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio and ordered pretrial detention for Ronny Aleaga and Daniel Salcedo. Meanwhile, Xavier Jordán and José Serrano must report weekly to the Miami Consulate.
The Prosecutor's Office presented testimonies and documents linking the defendants to the planning of the murder that occurred in August 2023. A hitman directly mentioned Rafael Correa as the "man above", alluding to an alleged mastermind.
Audiencia muerte villavicencio
In her ruling, the judge prohibited the accused from approaching or contacting Villavicencio's family. She also reprimanded prosecutor Ana Hidalgo for lack of substantiation, warning that "we are not here for a political show, but to seek the truth."
Defenses and testimonies
The defenses of Jordán, Aleaga, and Serrano rejected the charges and stated that there is no direct evidence of financing or proven meetings. They argued that the Prosecutor's Office accusations are based on conjecture and unverified statements.
However, Salcedo's testimony opened new lines of investigation. The defendant claimed that Correísmo used connections with drug trafficking to plan the crime and mentioned Jorge Glas, Serrano, and Aleaga as coordinators. According to his words, Serrano was "Correa's armed wing."
Political impact
The Villavicencio case has become a reminder of the link between organized crime and politics during the past decade. The structures born under socialism left a legacy of impunity and violence, which still affects Ecuadorian justice.
The judicial decision to proceed against Aleaga and Salcedo marks a key step in the pursuit of justice. The investigation confirms that Correísmo not only weakened institutions, but also opened the door to criminal networks, leaving a legacy that Ecuador is trying to overcome.
