MENDOZA: Un femicidio sin cadáver terminó con veredicto de culpabilidad

Carlos Vilchez, culpable

Un jurado de Mendoza declaró este viernes por la tarde culpable a Carlos Miguel Díaz Vilchez (66) por el delito de homicidio agravado por el vínculo y por mediar violencia de género en perjuicio de su pareja, Ivana Romina Molina Narváez. En consecuencia, fue condenado a prisión perpetua.

La resolución llegó luego de una semana de debate en la que las partes expusieron ante el jurado dos hipótesis contrapuestas en una causa atravesada por una particularidad central: los restos de la mujer nunca fueron hallados. Nunca apareció el cadáver.

Durante los alegatos de apertura, el Ministerio Público Fiscal —representado por los fiscales Fernando Guzzo y Claudia Ríos— había sostenido que se trató de “un crimen macabro”. Según la acusación, Díaz Vilchez asesinó a Ivana a fines de marzo o comienzos de abril de 2023 en la vivienda que compartían en Ciudad y luego hizo desaparecer el cuerpo. El abogado querellante Cristian Vaira Leyton ratificó esta línea argumental.

Para la fiscalía, la mujer fue víctima de violencia de género en el marco de una relación signada por celos y episodios previos de maltrato físico, psicológico y económico. Como parte de su teoría del caso, los investigadores señalaron que la última actividad del celular de Ivana se registró la noche del 31 de marzo de 2023 y que, desde entonces, no volvió a presentarse en sus lugares de trabajo ni a visitar a sus hijos.

Además, atribuyeron al acusado maniobras de ocultamiento posteriores al hecho: la rotura del piso de la vivienda, el pedido de herramientas y el retiro de escombros. También incorporaron como prueba científica rastros de sangre hallados en la casa, cuyos análisis genéticos fueron atribuidos a la víctima.

Jueza Carolina Colucci

La defensa, encabezada por Ariel Benavidez y Marcelo López, centró su estrategia en cuestionar la existencia misma del hecho. Sostuvo que no había prueba directa de la muerte y que, al no haberse encontrado el cuerpo, no podía darse por acreditado el fallecimiento de la mujer. Incluso planteó la posibilidad de que estuviera con vida en Chile.

Finalmente, el jurado consideró de manera unánime que los indicios presentados por la acusación resultaron suficientes para tener por acreditada la muerte de Ivana Molina y la responsabilidad penal de Díaz Vilchez, a quien declaró culpable de homicidio agravado por el vínculo y por mediar violencia de género, delito que prevé como única pena la prisión perpetua.

Leer noticias aquí:

- El Sol (27/02/26) - "Un femicidio sin cuerpo, pero con condena: perpetua para el asesino de Ivana Molina" (acá)

- El Sol (04/02/26) - "Un femicidio sin cuerpo: la historia que llega a juicio por jurado entre dos hipótesis opuestas" (acá)

MENDOZA, Argentina: 'Cat Man' on trial for double murder expelled from courtroom for meowing

Pereg "meowing" like a cat.

A man accused of killing his mother and aunt in Argentina, dubbed 'cat man' by international media, was thrown out of a courtroom in the city of Mendoza, after refusing the judge's order to stop meowing like a feline during the beginning of his trial. 

The case received worldwide media coverage, since it shocked the Jewish community around the globe (see).

Gil Pereg (40), a former elite soldier of Israel´s Army and living in Argentina since 2017, face charges for  having brutally murdered in December 2019 his mother Pyrhia Sauroussy (63) and his aunt, Lily Pereg (54), who had come to visit him to his home in Guaymallén, Mendoza, where their bodies were mutilated and buried.

Pereg alleges insanity in his defense and maintains that he is a cat. Since the very first moment that he was remanded in prison, he displayed an incredibly odd behaviour, urinating the courtroom and meowing instead of speaking. The prosecution says that this a complete lie and that the jury must render a guilty verdict as charged.   

In a video released by the Mendoza district attorney's office, Gil Pereg begins to imitate the meow of a cat in court while refusing to answer questions from prosecutors.

"Mr. Gil Pereg, before the entry of the jury I warned you that if you wanted to remain in the courtroom, you should do so in silence, with respect and decorum," judge Laura Guajardo says before ejecting him.

WATCH  THE JUDGE  EJECTING GIL PEREG FROM THE COURTROOM

The trial by jury of Israeli Gil Pereg, in Mendoza province, Argentina, will be broadcasted live in English and Hebrew to the whole world

Gil Pereg and their victims

On October 26, 2021, the jury trial will begin against Gil Pereg (39), accused of having brutally murdered in December 2019 his mother Pyrhia Sauroussy (63) and his aunt, Lily Pereg (54), who had come to visit him to his home in Guaymallén, Mendoza, where their bodies were mutilated and buried. 

The case shocked the international Jewish community around the world (see here). For that reason, and at the demand of the main international news networks and at the request of the victim's family, it will be broadcasted live on YouTube to Israel and Australia with simultaneous subtitles in English and Hebrew. 

It will be the most famous jury trial in the world of all that have been made in Argentina. 

Pyrhia lived in Israel; Lily in Australia, where she was serving as a prestigious associate professor of microbiology at the University of New England. 

Terrifying: Pereg poses where he buried both victims

The disturbing crime received worldwide coverage due to the cruelty of the crime and to the intriguing personality of the defendant, who received elite military training in Israel and has an IQ of 180.

Pereg is charged with double aggravated homicide and femicide. Pereg alleges insanity in his defense and maintains that he is a cat, so he will seek to be declared not guilty because of insanity. The prosecution has rejected this claim, since the experts have affirmed that Pereg perfectly understands his actions and has overwhelming circumstantial evidence against him.

Gil Pereg will be tried in the capital of the province of Mendoza by a jury of twelve people, led by Judge María Laura Guajardo. The accusation will be in charge of the prosecutor Fernando Guzzo.

Judge María Laura Guajardo

Prosecutor Fernando Guzzo

THE JURY SYSTEM IN MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

Argentine jurors

Trial by jury is ordered in three sections of the Argentine National Constitution. 

In the province of Mendoza, Argentina, the trial takes place in a public hearing before twelve jurors drawn from the voting lists and presided over by a judge. By law, gender parity is required in the jury, so there must always be six women and six men.

There is a voir dire hearing to select the imaprtial jury, with four peremptories per side and unlimited challenges for cause.

The jury must decide guilt beyond every reasonable doubt. The burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is on the prosecution.

The defense has to prove nothing. The innocence of the accused is presumed throughout the entire process.

The accused is not obliged to testify and may remain silent, without this making any presumption of guilt against him.

The presiding judge instruct the jury on the law, including the main charge and lesser included offences. Summing-up is prohibited. 

The verdict must be unanimous. If the jury hangs, one more new trial is allowed at the request of the prosecution. If there is still a hung jury on the second trial, the judge will acquit the defendant.

The verdict is final. Only the defendant has the right to appeal a conviction.

Read news here: 

- Los Andes (11/9/21): "Trial of Gil Pereg: it will take place in the last days of October and will be broadcast for Israel and Australia" (ver)

- AAJJ (2/23/19): "MENDOZA, Argentina: Jury trial for horrifying homicide of two Israeli tourists" (see)

 

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA: THE JURY TRIAL LAW PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE SENATE.

On a historic day for our country and for the region of Cuyo, the Senate of the Province of Mendoza unanimously approved the trial by jury bill. The law is marked by number 9106 (click here).

The Senate

It was the finishing touch on an unprecedented political and legislative process in Mendoza, the beatiful land with some of the best wines in the world. An institution as prestigious as the jury trial deserved as memorable as a vote as it received. The repercussions in the provincial and national media were immediate.

MENDOZA PROVINCE, ARGENTINA: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF THE TRIAL BY JURY BILL

In another memorable day for the Argentine Republic and its National Constitution, the House of Representatives of the province of Mendoza gave preliminary approval of the trial by jury bill. Mendoza is the fifth largest Argentine province and worldwide known for the exceptional qualities of their wines. The jury bill was approved by 31 votes in favor and 17 abstentions, after two hours of debate. Only one week ago, Argentina´s third largest province, Santa Fe, took a similar step and passed a first class jury bill.

The splendid House of Representatives

This concludes a fascinating political process that surprised the country when, in April 2018, Governor Alfredo Cornejo (UCR-Cambiemos) and one of his most tenacious political rivals, senator Anabel Fernández Sagasti (FPV) agreed to pass the law of trial by jury. Just four months later, the law is halfway to being approved. In the next weeks, the Senate will pass the bill.  

Governor Cornejo and Senator Sagasti