Transvesticide of Sofía Fernández: Justice demanded outside the Pilar police station where she was killed.
Relatives and activists marched to the 5th police station in Derqui (Pilar, Buenos Aires province), where Sofía Fernández, a trans teacher, was tortured and murdered in April 2023, according to an autopsy. Ten police officers are accused, but the judge released nine, even though forensic evidence indicates more than two people were involved. He also removed the hate crime aggravating factor.
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Fifteen months after Sofía Fernández was found dead in a cell at the 5th police station in Derqui, Pilar, Buenos Aires province, her sister, Mabel Valdez, along with activists, organizations, and self-organized groups, marched to the police station.
"No one commits suicide in a police station." "I knew, I knew, that Sofía was killed by the police." "Wherever they go, we'll come looking for them." With these chants, about seventy people left the gas station at the corner of Route 8 and Las Magnolias and marched about 300 meters to the police station.
At the front, Mabel held a banner that reads: Justice for Sofía Fernández, it was a transvesticide. She was accompanied by Higui de Jesús—who arrived from San Miguel with his dog Tita—trans and transvestite activists, and representatives of gender, political, and social organizations from various parts of the metropolitan area. The mobilization was convened by the Justice for Sofía Commission.
What happened to Sofia?
Sofía was a language teacher, suffered discrimination as a teacher, and was about to begin her nursing studies. She was arrested in what is believed to be a fabricated case by municipal police, who accused her of robbery.
She arrived at the Derqui police station on April 8, 2023. Her relatives went to see her, but they were refused entry. On April 11, members of the Gendarmerie informed them that Sofía had died in a cell. The autopsy revealed that she died of asphyxiation . Her airway was blocked by underwear and a piece of mattress. She had been beaten, tortured, and abused.
Ten police officers were charged: five for homicide and five for accessory after the fact. They were imprisoned but were eventually released by Judge Walter Saetone of the Guarantee Court No. 7 of the Municipality of Pilar for lack of merit, with the exception of one, Carlos Rodríguez, an assistant officer. However, forensic evidence indicated that more than two people were needed to kill her.
What is being claimed
There are several demands driving the march: protesting the release of nine of the ten accused police officers and the appointment of expert witnesses to defend them, within the purview of the Ministry of Security. They are asking that ministry for protective measures for the victim's family (which the courts have rejected) and for travel coverage whenever they have to travel for legal proceedings and face travel expenses they cannot afford. Sofía's sister is also requesting a meeting with the provincial Minister of Security, Javier Alonso, to convey these demands to him in person.
Presentes contacted the Buenos Aires Ministry of Security, but they declined to comment, arguing that the case is under investigation involving police officers and must be addressed by the courts.
Tension on Route 8
There were moments of tension with traffic, which, with no one able to regulate the street, was ruthless with the protesters. He was willing to drive over them with his vehicles, even though the march agreed to clear a lane after a few meters.
The police themselves blocked Route 8 when the demonstration arrived at the police station, surrounded by a dozen uniformed officers, many with their faces covered. Sofía's sister got as close as she could to the tape surrounding the station and looked the officers in the eye, saying: "The time will come when everyone will pay. It will be a matter of time before my sister has justice. Sofía can't rest in peace because her murderers are free. I can't rest either."
Mabel asked them: “How many of you have seen a woman’s body after several days without life? How many of you have a trans person in your family?” And she recalled: “ Sofía walked into this damn police station and came out on a stretcher lifeless because of you . It was my first time, I had to see it. I didn’t feel like seeing my sister in pieces, the way they handed her over to me. May my sister’s death not leave your consciences at ease.”
“This is a corporate defense”
Activists and self-convened activists spoke with loudspeakers. Among them was Higui de Jesús, acquitted in court for defending herself against a "corrective" rape by a gang of men. "When we enter a police station, they take pictures of our entire bodies, like what happened to me when I was imprisoned for eight months and there wasn't a drop of blood from those who raped me," she told them. "I'd like to look at those photos of you, murderers and accomplices, of how you tortured our comrade."
Quimey Ramos, a transvestite human rights activist and teacher, stated: “This is a corporate defense. Not one person has stepped forward to say this was a crime, and I won't be part of it . On the other hand, the entire structure, both outside and above the police station, is dedicated to protecting them. They already have four defense attorneys from the provincial security department. And they were granted expert witnesses who will lend their professional knowledge to justify their actions, active police officers,” she emphasized.
Quimey linked police action to a structural context. “ If we think it's just a matter of evil, we end up believing it's about individual issues. It's not about good or bad.” Turning to face the police, he said, “You think you're doing your job. But the difference is the place we occupy in the world. You too, for the most part, have come from humble families. The problem is structural: being the arm that shoots the poor. This system creates unemployment, poverty, and vulnerable lives, and the only way to sustain it amid so much adjustment is to keep you without being able to question that you are also complicit.”
“Sofía Fernández's case must not go unpunished. Let's fight together!” trans activist Mónica Aguirre, a leader of Libre Diversidad, harangued from the microphone. And Fernanda Ludueña, from the Gender Ombudsman's Office, Classist Feminism for Self-Defense, also called for justice for Loan, “a victim of corrupt police officers.”
"Mabel, listen, your struggle is our struggle," chanted those present as they hugged Sofía's sister. Last Friday, Mabel accompanied Tehuel's family at the final hearing of his trial and marched alongside other mothers who have been victims of violence.
The judge removed the aggravating factor of hate
The homicide investigation is being conducted by the Prosecutor's Office. This team includes Esteban Álvarez, the San Isidro prosecutor for illicit drug investigation; Manuel Cayuela, from the Gender Unit; and assistant prosecutor Victoria Santamaría. The prosecutor's office, plaintiff attorney Ignacio Fernández Camillo explained today to Radio Semilla, had requested that the aggravating factor of hatred based on gender identity be classified as aggravated, as well as the involvement of two or more people. But Judge Saetone, "by releasing nine police officers for lack of merit, based on their statements, also removed the involvement of two or more people and the aggravating factor of hatred, which is essential for the course of the investigation," Camillo stated.
From the police statements, "nothing emerges that contributes to how Sofía died," the lawyer explained. "But from the statements of the head of the Lomas de Zamora morgue and the expert, it appears that it was not a suicide and that more than two people were involved," the lawyer emphasized.
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