attacker sentenced to prison for domestic violence

Colombian striker Sebastián Villa, from Boca Juniors, was sentenced this Friday (2) to two years in prison in a trial for domestic violence against his girlfriend in April 2020.
Judge Claudia Dávalos convicted Villa of threats and serious injuries “in the context of domestic violence” against Daniela Cortés.

Villa was sentenced to two years and one month in prison on conditional execution (not effective) and to comply with a series of rules of conduct during that period, which include abstaining from any contact with Cortés and his family and from consuming narcotics and abusing of alcoholic beverages.

The 27-year-old player will also have to undergo psychosocial treatment and participate in work sessions “in order to solve his problems”.

Villa, who has been playing for Boca Juniors since 2018, was on trial since April 17 at the 2nd Correctional Court of Lomas de Zamora, in the province of Buenos Aires.

The athlete, who could be sentenced to up to six years in prison, pleaded not guilty during the trial, which ended on Friday.

Cortés, who chose not to be present at the verdict, denounced Villa for assault on April 27, 2020 in the house they shared in the private neighborhood of Saint Thomas, in the city of Canning. That same night, Cortés published images of his injuries on social media and, the next morning, filed a criminal complaint.

Villa was also denounced by another woman, in May 2022, for a second episode of domestic violence, which would have occurred in June 2021, for sexual abuse with carnal access, aggravated by injuries.

There is still no reaction from Boca Juniors, whose vice-president, former player Juan Román Riquelme, said a few days ago that it was “a very sensitive matter” and that, when the verdict is known, the club would take “measures you have to take, as the case may be”.