linkVíctor Vicencio Marín, the attacker, spent the next three days in jail, but then went free after paying US$1,000 in bail. "Turns out it's cheap to kill a ->-bleeped-<-got," he was quoted as telling reporters upon his release. At no time since the Nov. 12, 2004 attack has Vicencio ever denied what he did.
Despite the killer's admitted guilt, the case dragged on for nearly two-and-a-half years. Vicencio was able to hire a private lawyer. Ana Sanchez, the victim's mother, was not.
Then, late last month, the Calama criminal court finally reached a decision: Vicencio successfully plea bargained for a four year suspended sentence. Unless he decides to commit another crime, the confessed murderer will not spend a single additional day in prison.
