Tragic end of femicide at a service station in Treinta y Tres in a bathroom in Ancap

By Jesus Vargas

Avoidable tragedy: femicide at the Treinta y Tres service station with a history of violence

The tranquility of the department Thirty Three was interrupted by a new and horrific act of gender violence. Local police investigate a femicide at Treinta y Tres service station occurred in the afternoon hours of this Sunday, in front of busy Route 8. A man, in an act of extreme violence, murdered his ex-partner in the commercial premises of a service station and then tried to take his own life. The incident generates deep consternation and focuses on the failures of the victim protection system.

According to the information provided to Uruguay Up to Date, the man shot himself after murdering the woman. However, when the medical teams arrived, they found him alive, although in a very serious condition, so he was rushed to a hospital. The sources indicated that the aggressor is currently in CTI, very serious. The victim, however, died instantly.

Minutes of terror at the Ancap premises

The dramatic episode occurred around 2:00 p.m. this Sunday on the premises of the Ancap located on Route 8. Local radio FM Conquistador He stated that the man is 53 years old and his ex-partner, the victim, is 45. The sequence of terror began when the woman entered the commercial premises of the service station, desperately requesting help. Behind her, her ex-partner entered.

The primary police report accessed by the press confirms this sequence of events. Around 1:55 p.m., troops were sent to the service station because there was a complaint about a man “unbalanced and carrying a firearm. When the police vehicles approached the scene, “two explosions were heard.” The man shot the woman once and then himself. medical emergencies They confirmed the death of the victim and transported the aggressor "in a delicate condition. The femicide It took place in a matter of minutes.

Electronic monitoring completed: alert ignored

What is most outrageous and raises questions is the history of violence that existed in the couple and the prior intervention of the judicial system. The radio local reported that there was history of violence in the relationship. The police report confirmed that, due to previous complaints, the man and woman “were under electronic monitoring control” until October.

Unfortunately, the preventive measures ended on that date, and according to the report, there were no subsequent complaints that reactivated the protection. This “window of time” in which the woman was left unprotected was used by the aggressor to carry out the fatal outcome. It thus adds to the long list of crimes that occur after the interruption of precautionary measures, reopening the debate on the effectiveness and duration of protection for victims of gender violence.

The investigation by prosecutor Ana Segovia

The investigation of this painful case has been left in the hands of the prosecutor Ana Segovia. The Prosecutor's Office's task will now focus on reconstructing the events accurately, through the premises' security cameras and the testimony of those present at the Ancap service station. In addition, it will be essential to analyze the history of complaints and the reasons why the measures of distancing and electronic monitoring were lifted in October.

The prosecutor must determine if there was any omission or negligence in following up the case, given that the man acted with a firearm, which implies premeditation and planning of the attack. The situation of the aggressor, who is torn between life and death, will also be a key factor in the development of the court case.

Treinta y Tres gas station femicide: a national tragedy

The tragic outcome of this femicide It is a constant reminder that gender violence is a structural problem that persists in Uruguay. The victim came looking for help in a public place, desperate to escape from her ex-partner, but unfortunately she did not succeed. The fact that the attack occurred in such an everyday space as a service station shows that the victim is never safe from her attacker.

The latest data on violence against women in Uruguay, which are constantly reviewed by authorities, indicate a worrying trend that these crimes confirm. Uruguayan society is crying out for more effective mechanisms that prevent women who have already reported, and who were under protection, end up being victims of violence sexist.

In front of a femicide at Treinta y Tres service station With a history of electronic monitoring that was discontinued, is it time to review the legislation so that protective measures do not automatically expire, but rather require a more rigorous and ongoing risk assessment by a multidisciplinary team?