Shocking femicide in Punta Colorada: prosecutor asked for 45 years in prison

By William Varela

He femicide in Punta Colorada This week he arrived at the oral trial in the specialized court of San Carlos. The prosecutor in the case, Fiorella Marzano, requested a sentence of 30 years in prison plus 15 years of eliminative security measures for Miguel Ángel Toledo, accused of murdering Karina Funes, 53, in May 2024.

The attack and the investigation

The incident occurred in the victim's home, located in Punta Colorada. According to the investigation, Toledo, 57, showed up at the house and shot him in the head with a shotgun. After the attack, tried to take his own life, but survived. Despite being injured, he managed to flee in his truck towards Piriápolis.

During the journey he lost control of the vehicle and hit a curb. He was found shortly after by the commissioner of the local branch, who coordinated his transfer to a health center. The accused remained hospitalized for several weeks and was then discharged, remaining in judicial custody.

Prosecutor Marzano requested a combined sentence: 30 years in prison and 15 years of security measures, intended for people classified as especially dangerous. This request raises expectations regarding the sentence, which will be read on November 7.

Failures in prior protection

Hours before the crime, Funes had denounced his ex-partner and a judge had ordered a ban on any approach. However, at that time there were no electronic ankle bracelets available in Maldonado's department. This lack prevented the reinforcement of the protection measures issued to protect the victim.

The relationship between the two had begun just two months earlier through the social network Instagram. According to investigators, the conflicts began shortly after and escalated quickly, leading to femicide.

He femicide in Punta Colorada once again exposed the problem of availability of electronic control devices, in a context where complaints of gender violence are multiplying throughout the country.

Judicial and social context

The judicial process, which is taking place in San Carlos, focuses the attention of both the press and social organizations that demand greater protection for women at risk. The prosecutor's request seeks to set a precedent in cases of violence extreme, where previous complaints, failure to comply with precautionary measures and a fatal outcome are combined.

The case is also closely followed by feminist groups in Maldonado, which warn about the lack of resources to prevent high-risk situations. The expectation is placed on the sentence, which could become a reference for future processes of the same nature.

Impact on the community

In Punta Colorada and Piriápolis, neighbors and relatives expressed their dismay at the event. The news had an impact on daily life in the area, where many commented that “there is a lack of tools” to protect those who report situations of violence.

In Uruguay, femicides are a reminder that preventive measures do not always achieve avoid tragedy. In this case, the lack of electronic anklets was pointed out as a determining factor.

He femicide in Punta Colorada He put on the agenda the debate on how to strengthen protection mechanisms and guarantee that complaints have an effective response. The November ruling will be key to defining the accused's judicial future and, at the same time, will set a precedent in the discussion on prevention policies.

He femicide in Punta Colorada Not only did it shock Maldonado, it also reignited a national debate about the resources available to protect at-risk women. Social organizations insist that the sentence should set a precedent to avoid new tragedies and demand more state commitment to prevention and immediate response.