Argentinian court gives suspended sentence to Boca Juniors' Villa

[June 03, 2023]  BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Colombian striker Sebastian Villa Cano, who plays for Argentina's top club Boca Juniors, was given a suspended prison sentence of more than two years on Friday after being found guilty of violence against his former partner Daniela Cortes. 

Colombian Boca Juniors' striker, Sebastian Villa, listens to justice reading a sentence to prison in Argentina on gender violence charges, next to his lawyer Martin Apolo, in a courtroom in Buenos Aires, Argentina June 2, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Sille

Villa was denounced in April 2020 by Cortes through photos of injuries published on social media, and later repeated her allegations before the local court.

"I resolve to sentence Villa Cano to two years and one month of conditional imprisonment ... for coercive threats with minor injuries in the context of gender violence," said the court ruling.

The sentence announced by Judge Claudia Davalos in the correctional court number 2 of Lomas de Zamora is less than three years which under Argentinian justice means it is suspended rather than being served in prison.

(Reporting by Ramiro Scandolo in Buenos Aires; Writing by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by David Holmes)

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