Five young men are under arrest for homophobic attack on Jonathan, a rugby player for Ciervos Pampas.
Three young men were arrested for the homophobic attack on Jonathan Castellari, which took place on December 1st in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant in Buenos Aires. The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office No. 49, headed by Paula Asaro, ordered the arrests based on a series of identifications using security camera footage.
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By Lucas Gutiérrez [Last updated 11:50 pm] Five young men have been arrested for the brutal homophobic attack on Jonathan Castellari, perpetrated on December 1st in the parking lot of a McDonald's in Buenos Aires. The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office No. 49 , headed by Paula Asaro, ordered the arrests based on a series of identifications using security camera footage from the fast-food restaurant. Although the attackers were eight men between the ages of 20 and 25, three of them were arrested last night, and another arrest was made this afternoon. The fifth arrest was made in the final minutes of Wednesday. The authorities are still searching for the remaining attackers. Jonathan's lawyer, Gastón Llopart, told Presentes that two of the identified attackers have requested release on bail, adding, "It remains to be seen what decision the court will make." Judge Alberto Baños is taking statements from the four people arrested for attempted murder. The judge's decision is expected after this hearing.
The three arrested for attempting to kill Jonathan Castellari for being gay are two brothers, sons of a well-known real estate businessman from Buenos Aires, and another, the son of a manager of a multinational oil company.
— Franco Torchia (@francotorchia_) December 27, 2017
[READ MORE: Brutal homophobic attack on member of the Ciervos Pampas rugby team ]
In the early hours of December 1st, Jonathan Castellari—a member of the Ciervos Pampas rugby team, the first LGBTQ+ rugby team in Latin America—was at a fast-food restaurant when a group of men attacked him in the parking lot, shouting, “We’re going to kill you, faggot.” Due to his injuries, he was hospitalized, nearly lost an eye, and spent several days in the hospital.[READ MORE: Homophobic attack: Jonathan was discharged from the hospital and the authorities are still searching for the attackers]
“We will proceed with the maximum legal charge for these cases, which is attempted homicide,” Gastón Llopart, the lawyer who is assisting with the complaint for the homophobic attack, told Presentes.Why this case could set a precedent
Llopart explained that the legal concept of "aggravating circumstance due to sexual orientation" exists and is relatively new. But this could be one of the first cases of homophobic attacks classified as such.
Jonathan and Sebastian, minutes before the attack, at the fast food restaurant. Sebastián Sierra, a friend who was with Jonathan Castellari at the time of the attack, told Presentes: “I feel that this step, the arrests, can make a difference.” He added: “I think it also had to do with the media attention the case received.”
On December 1st, Jonathan Castellari was brutally attacked at the McDonald's on Córdoba and Medrano streets. Several people told me he had provoked them, and a TV panelist downplayed and misrepresented the incident. Thanks to security cameras, three assailants have now been identified and arrested.
— Tomás Balmaceda (@capitanintriga) December 27, 2017
[READ MORE: #TacklingHomophobia: Pampas Deer, Latin America's first LGBTQ+ rugby team]
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