A second 16-year-old adolescent was arrested in connection with the homicide of Uriel Ríos and the attack on his twin brother, Uziel, following a court appearance overseen by Judge María Julia Camus. The suspect was located at his residence on Friday and subsequently brought before the magistrate, where he exercised his right to remain silent, according to court records.
New Arrest and Legal Representation
The latest detainee is represented by defense attorney Darío Tarcicio Amaya, who stated that his client denies any participation in the alleged crime. This development follows an earlier arrest in the case, where a different 16-year-old minor surrendered to authorities voluntarily. That initial suspect is represented by attorney María Filomena Noriega, who argued in previous proceedings that her client did not inflict the fatal wound on Uriel Ríos, though he allegedly took part in the altercation involving Uziel Ríos. Uziel survived the attack and subsequently recovered from his injuries.
Evidence and Video Analysis
During the ongoing judicial proceedings, Judge María Julia Camus has obtained new video footage intended to clarify the sequence of events during the fights. Investigators are subjecting the digital material to technological enhancement to improve visual clarity and precisely define the actions of each individual visible in the recordings. A primary focus for investigators remains identifying the specific individual who delivered the fatal knife wound to Uriel Ríos. Forensic teams are examining a knife found lodged in the victim’s body for fingerprints and other traces, while police continue searching for a second weapon believed to have been used in the clash.
Procedural Disputes Over Private Prosecution
Parallel to the criminal inquiry into the minors, a legal dispute has emerged regarding victim representation. Attorney Martín Zuleta sought to represent the family of Uriel Ríos as a private prosecutor, but reported that current procedural rules in San Juan prevented him from constituting as a querellant. Zuleta stated to Diario Huarpe that the provincial provisions may conflict with the newly implemented National Juvenile Penal Law and recent provisional legislation passed by the Chamber of Deputies. The lawyer indicated he is evaluating a potential challenge regarding the unconstitutionality of the norm, which could introduce a separate legal contest while the primary investigation into the homicide moves forward.
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