Josafat found guilty of the femicide of Evangelina Alcalá in Saltillo

SALTILLO, Coah. (apro).- Josafat “N” was found guilty of the femicide and concealment of the body of Evangelina Alcalá Valero in 2017, after a process that lasted more than two years after being arrested in the United States, when he tried to enter California through the Tijuana international bridge, where he fled after the events.

The sentence will be announced next Monday at 10:00 a.m. at the Justice Center in the capital of Coahuila, according to Judge Elisa Salinas López.

Proceso reported that the case was delayed for months because the accused constantly changed lawyers, sought an abbreviated procedure and even filed for an injunction, and that the Coahuila Judicial Branch hid the scheduled hearings on several occasions.

Alondra, daughter of the deceased, stated that they always knew who took her mother's life, but the authorities were negligent.

“The authorities have not been competent. They took away what I loved most, and we ask for the maximum penalty,” he said.

Since last Friday, when the trial resumed, 14 people have testified and two testimonies from people who have already died have been taken into consideration.

On Wednesday, during the presentation of arguments, the defense tried to dismiss the investigation and asserted that there was a version from a farmer dedicated to the care of goats, who saw people "of foreign origin" coming out of the path near where Evangelina's body was found half-buried.

However, the public prosecutor, the victim's legal advisor, and her family pointed out that there are several factors that dismiss this version because the call logs of the accused and Evangelina's phones were reviewed, and their geolocation places them in the area where Josafat hid the body. Testimonies indicated that they were seen leaving the Cuautla ejido, that he closed his business on the day of the events, and that he threatened to harm Evangelina and her family if she ended the relationship, as she confided to one of her friends.

The subject has a history of being violent, since in her testimony, one of his ex-partners narrated that he also assaulted her and threatened to suffocate her and bury her in a grave he dug near where Evangelina's body was located, so the legal representative of the deceased and her family pointed out the strength of the evidence.

“It is important to remember that behind every piece of evidence, every expert report, and every testimony presented in this trial lies a painful but undeniable truth: Evangelina was a victim of femicide at the hands of Josafat, who then hid her body with the intention of erasing her existence. Evangelina can no longer speak, but the evidence has spoken for her,” stated Ana Karen Lechuga, advisor for the Federal Institute of Public Defense.

Jackeline Campbel Dávila, who has accompanied the family in this process, pointed out that to establish the crimes there was evidence and indications that led to the conclusion of their responsibility.

“The romantic relationship that Evangelina had in a risky and isolated environment led to the conclusion of these two crimes committed against her, which are femicide and concealment of a corpse, also with intent, was part of today's ruling by the judge,” he explained.

While the hearing was taking place, outside the facilities of the Saltillo Justice Center, silhouettes of women were placed with the names of those who have been murdered in the country, as well as a banner with the image of Evangelina and on which her demand for justice was read.