The jury trial for the murder of “Tino” John begins in Esquel.

After more than four years of waiting, the jury trial for the murder of Alejandro "Tino" John , which occurred in May 2021 in Lago Puelo during an operation by the Special Operations Group (GEOP), will begin this Thursday, October 23rd in Esquel. The trial will continue until the end of the month and will have an estimated duration of seven days.

Esquel's chief defense attorney, Marcos Ponce , who represents one of the victim's sons, explained that organizational and procedural issues were resolved at last Thursday's preliminary hearing, including the jury's presence at the scene.

"We believe it is essential that the jurors be able to directly observe the home where Tino was killed, in order to assess what happened as closely as possible," he said.

The visit to the crime scene is scheduled for Thursday the 23rd, as part of the formal start of the trial. "This is not a reconstruction, but rather an observation of the physical space," Ponce clarified, adding that the logistics will be handled by the Judicial Office, which is responsible for the transportation of the jurors, the judge, and the participating parties.

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The oral argument will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Magistrates' Association headquarters, located at 700 Darwin Street. Due to space limitations, public attendance will be limited, although a remote broadcast will be guaranteed from Courtroom 2 of the Esquel Courts.

"Although the trials are public, there are important restrictions," Ponce noted. "The faces and identities of jurors cannot be disclosed, nor can witness statements be reproduced until the verdict is reached, in order to preserve the impartiality of the process."

The hearings will run until October 31, with a recess for election weekend . The jury will be composed of 12 regular judges and 4 alternates, equally divided between men and women, to ensure its functioning throughout the entire process.

The three police officers accused

The accused are Commissioners Cristian Soto and Omar Martínez , and Sergeant Luis Américo Moggiano , all still serving in the Chubut Police. According to Ponce, Moggiano faces a charge of aggravated homicide due to his status as a police officer, with an expected life sentence. Meanwhile, Soto and Martínez will be tried for failure to fulfill their duties as public officials, a crime that could lead to their dismissal from the force.

"When there is a guilty verdict, we will request his immediate dismissal from service," the defense attorney said.

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The start of the trial represents a key step in a case that has endured significant delays. “After four years and five months, we can finally bring this case to a jury. It's a long-awaited act of justice,” Ponce said.

At the same time, he noted that beyond criminal liability, there are also political responsibilities that the judicial process cannot judge: "There are officials who have held office without being held accountable, but in the criminal courts, those who should be there are there," he stated.

Accompaniment by human rights organizations

The Permanent Assembly for Human Rights (APDH) will monitor the judicial process. At a previous press conference, the organization's lawyer and national president, Eduardo Tavani, participated via videoconference and stated: "The murder of Tino John was not a tragedy; it was a homicide committed by a security force. We hope that this time justice will act independently and with all necessary evidence."

The victim's partner, Claudia Costa Basso , and John's children also participated, reiterating their call for justice.

"In this case, no protocol was followed. In just eight minutes, they chose between life and death, and they chose death," said Donato John, the victim's son, visibly emotional.

LB/DCQ