Cover photo: La Bulla Alternative Communication. A 23-year-old man is in custody for the murder of Azul Montoro, a trans woman stabbed 18 times in downtown Córdoba. The latest evidence links him to the crime "conclusively." This was confirmed to this agency by the Córdoba Prosecutor's Office No. 12, headed by Guillermo González, who is in charge of the investigation.

[READ MORE: #Cordoba Hate crime against a young trans woman: “She was brutally and treacherously murdered”]

What we know so far

"The crime was committed at 4 a.m. There were 18 stab wounds. We are deepening the investigation to determine the motives and the circumstances surrounding the incident. We know that the accused was riding a motorcycle and that he spoke with several transgender women." The prosecutor told Presentes. Fabián Alejandro Casivo was arrested at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18 (the same day as the crime), at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, which he had entered without authorization. He was carrying Azul's cell phone and had items stained with blood. "There is already biological evidence that links him to the material facts of the event," the prosecutor said.

The legal classification may change.

The case has been classified as homicide. There are two outstanding issues that the investigation must address. First, the killer's motive is a matter that could alter the legal classification of the crime. For now, it is classified as "simple homicide." "We want to push for it to be considered a hate crime, given the brutality of the murder and Azul's vulnerable circumstances," Celeste Giachetta, a representative of the Association of Transvestites, Transsexuals, and Transgender People of Argentina (ATTTA) in Córdoba, told Presentes. "Our desire is to join Azul's family as plaintiffs," she said. "Based on the reconstruction of the events, there is a strong possibility that the legal classification could change," the prosecutor noted. The other outstanding issue: four years ago, a Guarantee Court declared the man currently detained, whom the evidence points to as the perpetrator, not criminally responsible. His behavior after the crime reveals that he implemented strategies to conceal it. The prosecutor's office reported that he will now undergo psychiatric evaluations.

Azul supported the demand for a trans job quota

Celeste is convinced. “Just like what happened to Azul, it could have happened to any other sex worker. The guy was a client. After murdering her, he tried to arrange a service with two other girls.” She also remembers that “Azul always supported the demands for trans job quotas.” Ivanna Aguilera, president of Devenir Diverse and Provincial representative of the Federal Transvestite and Transgender Network of Argentina, said that “fifteen months ago, we presented a project for the Promotion of Formal Employment for Trans People to Councilor Miriam Acosta, president of the Gender Equity Commission of the Deliberative Council, but it’s still stalled. If projects like this were underway, Azul and so many others would be alive. They have no other option but prostitution, and prostitution kills. It’s the State’s responsibility. And we also have to work with the police and in the courts.”