The Criminal Cassation Chamber in Argentina confirmed the annulment of the trial for the death of Mons. Carlos Ponce de León, Bishop of San Nicolás de los Arroyos, which occurred in 1977 in a car accident, with new evidence that would point to a murder that would have been perpetrated by the military dictatorship.
The nullity It had been informed months ago by the chamber, when it determined that there were irregularities in the trial held in 1978, but the defense of the accused – the driver of the other vehicle – filed an appeal against that ruling.
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The new judicial provision, dated May 30 but recently reported in the Argentine media, reaffirms the position of the Court of Cassation and will allow a new trial to be held.
The previous trial, held in 1978, had determined that the bishop’s death was accidental. However, according to the Court of Cassation, the body that is responsible for reviewing and has the ability to annul sentences, that investigation was tainted with possible cover-up maneuvers.
On this occasion, the judicial process will have new evidence material that was collected since 2004, a period of investigation in which the threats suffered by the prelate for his support for the families of the disappeared and his complaints against the military authorities were revealed. of Saint Nicholas.
On May 30, the judges of Chamber 4 of Criminal Cassation rejected the appeal presented by the defense of Luis Antonio Martínez, who on July 11, 1977 was driving the truck that the car driven by Mons. Carlos Ponce collided with. de León, on July 11, 1977, causing his death.
In this way, judges Gustavo Hornos, Mariano Borinsky and Javier Carbajo definitively confirmed the annulment of the trial for the death of the prelate, and in the new trial the main hypothesis of a homicide motivated by pastoral and social commitment to the disappeared and their families will be established. families.
Among the steps to follow in the case, federal prosecutor Matías Di Lello will request that the members of the Army Area 132 task group be investigated for the murder of Mons. Ponce de León. The final instance would be a new oral trial.
The Catholic Church remembers Bishop Ponce de León
47 years after his death, the Diocese of San Nicolás de los Arroyos will remember Mons. Carlos Horacio Ponce de León with a week of various activities, declared of municipal interest.
The week in memory of the bishop is organized by the Diocesan Commission for Testimonial Report of Mons. Carlos Horacio Ponce de León, and begins on Tuesday, July 9 at 11:00 a.m. on Álvarez and Eva Perón streets (Barrio Asonia), with an exhibition composed of photos and elements that belonged to the deceased bishop, and cultural and recreational activities.
At 2:45 p.m., a talk will be offered about Bishop Ponce de León, with a musical animation by Juanchi Galeano, and the presence of Marisa Ponce de León (niece of the bishop), Marcela Mónica Videla Arias (belonging to the Ponce de León Foundation) and Father Enrique Ciro Bianchi, professor at the Faculty of Theology of Buenos Aires.
On Wednesday, July 10, at 8:10 p.m. there will be a virtual dissertation by Father Fabricio Forcat entitled: “Mons. Ponce de León. Some keys to the historical and ecclesial context of his action and his passion.”
Those who wish to participate can connect via Zoom (Meeting ID: 96081961756 Access code: 694376) or follow the activity on Facebook: Ponce de León Commission.
On Thursday, July 11, the anniversary of his death, at 3:00 p.m. a Mass will be celebrated in the grotto on the Buenos Aires-Rosario highway, at km 211, where Mons. Ponce de León died.
On the same day at 7:00 p.m., the Bishop of San Nicolás, Mons. Hugo Santiago, will preside over a Mass in the San Nicolás de Bari Cathedral (Mitre and National Guards), where the prelate’s remains rest.
In Buenos Aires, for the first time, the Eucharist will be celebrated in memory of the bishop. It will be in the primate cathedral, on Thursday the 11th at 5:30 p.m., and will be presided over by Mons. Joaquín Sucunza, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese.
Juliet Villar
I am a journalist, with a degree in communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non-governmental organizations. Since 2016 I have been dedicated to Catholic journalism, first at the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as ACI Prensa correspondent for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.