President Javier Milei’s government intends to ramp up its efforts to pass a bill lowering the age of criminal responsibility after the shocking death of a seven-year-old girl in La Plata at the hands of two teenagers.
Devastated relatives laid the body of young Kim Gómez to rest at a cemetery in the provincial capital of Buenos Aires Province on Thursday as they struggled to come to terms with the senseless death that has outraged local residents.
Gómez was brutally killed after two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, stole her mother’s car near a wholesale retailer in the capital of Buenos Aires Province.Setting off without initially realising the child was still in the car, witnesses say the delinquents attempted to eject Kim from the vehicle’s window as they attempted to escape.
The young child ended up being dragged by the vehicle’s wheels for approximately 15 blocks as local residents gave chase on foot and in cars.
Eventually, the duo lost control of the vehicle and crashed, before fleeing the scene.
An autopsy later concluded that Kim had suffered “hypovolemic shock as a result of the severe blows” and died from the injuries sustained.
Preliminary results, cited by local media outlets, said the girl had suffered “traumatic injuries, multiple fractures and injuries” associated with being run over.
Local residents, outraged by Kim’s death and rising crime in the region, have taken to the streets this week to demand justice for the slain child and demand the local government do more to tackle violent crime.
The accused, who were later detained by police, are now being held in custody. According to reports, both have criminal backgrounds and are known drug users.
Speaking to television reporters on Thursday at the child’s funeral, Kim’s father said that a relative of one of the accused had called to beg “forgiveness.”
“Today the father of one of the boys called me, I cried all night looking at photos and videos. I was [still] in shock,” said Marcos Gómez at the gates of the cemetery.
“He called me to ask for my forgiveness,” said the grieving father.
“I’m devastated, my soul is breaking, they took my little girl,” he said weeping.
Age of responsibility
The horrific killing has encouraged the Milei administration to refocus its efforts on passing a new “Criminal Youth Act” that would lower the age of responsibility.
The issue has long been on the agenda and Milei’s government senses its moment. It submitted a bill in June to reduce the liability age of minors from 16 to 13. The change is justified, according to the government, by the argument that there is a growing percentage of crimes in this country committed by teenagers.
The first to call for reform was Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, who wrote on social media: “A year ago we presented the Juvenile Criminal Regime. Its treatment must be URGENT! Argentines cannot wait any longer.”
Like many from the ruling party, she pointed the finger at Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicilloff, claiming his “uselessness” is “costing lives.”
Buenos Aires Province, the nation’s most-populous region, tends to witness a number of high-profile violent incidents in a calendar year. Its proximity to the capital also means shocking stories gather more media coverage.
According to the most recent government data available, an average of two homicide victims per day are registered in Buenos Aires Province, of which around 40 percent are intentional killings.
Former national security minister Sabina Frederic this week condemned the “horrifying” killing of Gómez and said it is “necessary” to have harsher sentences for crimes.
However, she warned in a radio interview that tougher jail terms “will not stop the situation” and called for greater preventative measures and education to tackle the problems facing Argentina’s youth.
Other experts have questioned the Milei administration’s move, stating that lowering the age would lead to criminalisation at a younger age and could end up reinforcing criminal practices, rather than deterring them.
As it stands
Several bills seeking to lower the age of criminal responsibility have been introduced to Congress in recent years, but none have won approval.
According to a 1983 law which raised the age of criminal responsibility from 14 years old in Argentina, those under the age of 16 are tried under a different penal regime. Only minors convicted of a crime punishable with over two years of jail time are sentenced, and only adults over the age of 18 can go to prison. Minors must be held in a juvenile institution until they are adults.
The government’s new proposal would see teenagers between 13 and 18 who are charged with a crime dealt with under Argentina’s existing Criminal Code.
Several bills seeking to lower the age of criminal responsibility have been introduced to Argentina’s Congress in recent years, but none have won approval.
– TIMES/NA/PERFIL
Comments