5 people sentenced to prison in the murder of the presidential candidate in Ecuador

 

    Fernando Villavicencio

Five people have been sentenced to prison in the murder of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. All of them are involved in one of the biggest criminal gangs in Ecuador.

Villavicencio, a former Ecuadorian journalist, was also a member of the country's National Assembly. He was a presidential candidate. He was shot dead in August last year after finishing campaigning in the capital, Quito.

Carlos Angulo and Laura Castilla were sentenced to 34 years and 8 months in prison for ordering the murder. Angulo is said to be the leader of the Los Lobos gang.

Angulo, known as 'The Invisible', is serving a 54-month prison sentence for possession of firearms. Prosecutors allege that Angulo ordered the killing while sitting in a Quito prison.

However, Angulo denied the allegations. He claims that he has been made a 'scapegoat' in this murder incident.

Castilla is accused of supplying the instrument of murder. He sent weapons, money and motorcycles for the killers.

In addition to Angulo and Castilla, a court in Quito sentenced two men and a woman to 12 years in prison for aiding the killers. They are Eric Ramirez, Victor Flores and Alexandra Shimbo. All three were accused of informing the killers about Villavicencio's movements.

More than 70 people testified during the trial. An important witness said that the criminal gang was offered more than $200,000 to kill Villavicencio.

Villavicencio received several death threats during the election campaign. He was still campaigning. He was shot dead by assailants in front of a school in northern Quito on August 9.

Villavicencio was one of the few candidates accused of collusion between organized crime groups and government officials.

During the trial, the counsels said that a person involved in the murder died of gunshot wounds during a confrontation with the police at the scene. Later, six Colombian nationals were arrested for their involvement in the murder. They were detained at the Littoral Prison before the trial began. Later, each of them was found dead.

Counsel said a separate investigation is underway to determine who contracted the Los Lobos gang to carry out the killings.

Villabisencio's wife welcomed the court's ruling. But she says it's only the beginning of a long road to uncovering the full story behind her husband's death.