[Pantyholic]

CHILE: CONFESSED TRANSVESTITE KILLER AVOIDS JAIL

Impunity A Common Factor In Transgender Murders

Andrea Sanchez, murdered in 2004
(April 18, 2007) As far as murders go, the death of Andrea Sanchez – fatally beaten in her Calama apartment by a man who had just bought her sexual services for 2,000 pesos (less than US$4) – seemed to be a fairly cut and dry case.

The man who repeatedly hit Sanchez, smashed her head against a wall and then mercilessly kicked her, was arrested at the scene of the crime.

Víctor Vicencio Marín, the attacker, spent the next three days in jail, but then went free after paying US$1,000 in bail. “Turns out it’s cheap to kill a faggot,” he was quoted as telling reporters upon his release. At no time since the Nov. 12, 2004 attack has Vicencio ever denied what he did.

Despite the killer’s admitted guilt, the case dragged on for nearly two-and-a-half years. Vicencio was able to hire a private lawyer. Ana Sanchez, the victim’s mother, was not.

Then, late last month, the Calama criminal court finally reached a decision: Vicencio successfully plea bargained for a four year suspended sentence. Unless he decides to commit another crime, the confessed murderer will not spend a single additional day in prison.

For Mrs. Sanchez, a resident of Santiago’s impoverished La Granja district, the suspended sentence is simply unacceptable.

For the past two-and-a-half years she struggled against the dual burdens of extreme poverty and the prohibitive distance between Santiago and Calama to make several long bus trips north. While there she spoke with newspapers and television stations, trying to send out a message that her son – transvestite or not – deserves justice.

“I didn’t want my son’s case to end up in impunity, because I’ve fought so hard,” Mrs. Sanchez told the Santiago Times.

Much of her efforts were spent trying to arrange for Andrea’s body to sent home to Santiago – something she was unable to accomplish until just this past December.

“I hope Chilean authorities put their hands on their hearts because, unfortunately sir, the justice system in this country is... I just find it to be horribly bad,” she said. “This is a life that was taken. How can it be that a rapist or a common criminal is condemned to jail, while someone who takes the life of another person ends up practically absolved?”

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