Ecuador charges seven in Villavicencio murder case

Ecuador's Prosecutor's Office formally charged seven people on Saturday as alleged indirect perpetrators in the 2023 murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

Villavicencio, a legislator known for anti-corruption investigations, was shot dead at a campaign event in Quito 11 days before the 2023 presidential election, when he was polling in second place.

The prosecutor's office said on X that the seven defendants were charged over their alleged participation in murder. Those charged include former Interior Minister Jose Serrano, former legislator Ronny Aleaga, businessman Xavier Jordan and four people linked with the Los Lobos gang, including suspected leader Wilmer Chavarria, known as "Pipo."

Prosecutors allege Jordan, who lives in the United States, financed and planned the assassination. They accuse Serrano, who served under former president Rafael Correa, of providing Los Lobos with information about Villavicencio's whereabouts. Prosecutor Ana Hidalgo alleged in a filing that Aleaga, who has been granted asylum in Venezuela, coordinated actions to carry out the murder.

Chavarria is facing extradition proceedings from Spain to Ecuador. Prosecutors allege he planned the murder in exchange for $1 million.

Five other people have already been sentenced in connection with the assassination, with some receiving prison terms of up to 34 years. The suspected gunman was shot and killed by Villavicencio's bodyguards, while six other suspects allegedly linked to the crime were killed in prison.