Tuesday, February 25, 2020

ARGENTINA | 28-01-2020 11:15

New testimony tests 'Los Rugbiers' pact of

silence on killing
With new evidence from eyewitnesses, it is becoming clear that not all of the rugby players played an equal
role in the murder of Fernando Báez Sosa. Will their pact to stick together remain?

N I C O L Á S FÁ B R E G A

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TOGETHER OR APART. THAT IS THE DILEMMA THAT THE TEN INVOLVED IN THE MURDER OF FERNANDO BÁEZ SOSA FACE THIS WEEK. | CEDOC PERFIL

“E
ach one knows the role they took in the fight, and you have to take charge.”

Twenty-year-old Lucas Pertossi said these words, shortly after the attack outside the Le Brique nightclub in
Villa Gesell on Saturday, January 18, which left 19-year-old Fernando Báez Sosa dead. Pertossi and nine others
were involved in the brutal assault.

Although the youngster's words weren’t initially notable, now it seems they contain a hidden sentiment. Until
now, the group of rugby players – identified today in the local press as 'los rugbiers' – have all been defended
by the same lawyer, Hugo Tomei, as they face charges of aggravated homicide with malicious intent.

However, as the days pass and witnesses contribute new testimony to investigators, seven of the of the
youngsters have now been formally identified as part of the attack, while at least five witnesses
point to Máximo Thomsen, 20, as the author of the crime.

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Pact of silence?

In initial inquiries, all 10 members of the group decided not to testify (an 11th individual, 21-year-old Pablo
Ventura, did speak, though he said he had nothing to do with the incident – evidence has proved him right).
That tactic could now change based on witness testimony.

There are still two rounds of depositions to come, Not everyone, according to the witnesses, had the same role.

Five have claimed to have seen Thomsen kick Báez in the head, even though he was unconscious. Another
member of the group, Ciro Pertossi, 19, is another in the spotlight. He was spotted fighting with Báez's friends
so they would not be able to intervene, thus enabling the homicide. Enzo Comelli, 19, was seen inside the
bowling alley starting the fight. He threw the first punches at Baez later in the street. Two other witnesses have
said that Matías Benicelli, 20, cheered on the attack. Another three members of the group are believed to
have either chased or hit the victim, or encouraging it.

One judicial spokesman told Perfil this weekend that the players should change their strategy and each hire
their own lawyer. “Not everyone has the same level of participation and, if they continue this [pact of] silence,
those less involved will be implicated. They didn’t point everyone out, but they’re all locked up for the same
crime,” said the spokesman.

This is where Pertossi’s statement asks the question: Will each own up and reveal their individual role in the
attack, or will they all stick together? One thing remains clear: they will be behind bars for some time to come.
“There is no chance of being released,” Báez family lawyer Fabián Améndola told Perfil.

It remains to be seen whether those yet to appear before prosecutors — Juan Guarino, Blas Cinali, Lucas
Pertossi — will remain silent. For now, Ciro Pertossi and Thomsen have been charged as co-authors of the
murder, while the other eight are accessories to the crime. With these charges, all could face life in prison.

“It is the only possible penalty,” said high-profile lawyer Fernando Burlando, who has also joined the family's
legal team, according to Perfil. He said the rugby players should “they spend their whole lives in prison. No
lawyer will be able to help them and problems will start when they have to sacrifice themselves as time goes
by. Each one will try to save himself and, thus, it will be difficult for them to all keep the same lawyer.”

Thomsen's mother resigned

Meanwhile, architect Rosalía Zárate, the mother of Máximo Thomsen, has resigned her position with the local
government in Zárate, where she had been serving as secretary of public works. She submitted her resignation
Friday after previously requesting a leave of absence. The municipality's interim mayor, Ariel Ríos, has
accepted the request. "She is not physically or mentally able to continue with her job," sources in the local
government told Perfil.

In recent days, the parents of the detainees visited their children at the police stations where they are currently
locked up. One parent's father told reporters they were living "a nightmare."

The group have all been in jail since Saturday, January 18, and, after 15 days in prison, an extension of a
further 15 days can be requested. Then prosecutors have to decide whether to ask for them to be remanding in
custody until trial, or released from prison.

– TIMES/PERFIL
 IN THIS NEWS
PERSONALITIES:
LUCAS PERTOSSI FERNANDO BÁEZ SOSA ARIEL RÍOS

LOCATIONS:
BUENOS AIRES VILLA GESELL

TOPICS:
CRIME RUGBY BRUTAL DEATH BÁEZ SOSA VILLA GESELL LAWYER JAIL JUDGE SILENCE

Nicolás Fábrega

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