The verdict of the Jorge Martínez abuse trial: what time is it and what is the possible sanction for the former Boca coach

After many twists and turns, there will finally be a verdict Jorge Martinezthe former coach of the women’s team Boca Juniors. Guilty or innocent?, will be the question that will be answered this Wednesday starting from 10.30 by the Oral Court n. 22 by Comodoro Py, in a reading open to the public and the press. The former footballer’s defense asked for this condition, because he has “nothing to hide” and he wants “the club to know what is really happening in the case”.

This was underlined by Ángel Romero, Martínez’s defense lawyer, based on the complaint presented by Florencia Marco, who summarized several episodes that occurred while she was press officer for the Xeneize women’s team in 2022.

If found guilty, the former Boca, River and Independiente defender could receive an intermediate sentence from six months to four years in prisonalthough it would only be effective if the sentence was more than three years, otherwise it would be a crime punishable by liberty.

“With the judge’s request for recusal in the case I felt very sad, I felt very tired emotionally and physically. Because it meant going through a new judicial instance and I felt like a victim again“Marco had said Clarionregarding the presentation of Martínez’s defense against the magistrate Sergio Paduczakfor alleged irregularities in the proceedings.

“Now that they have rejected the challenge I feel at peace again like when I filed the complaint in court. The defense’s action once again demonstrates what I went through behind closed doors at the club, he adds. I trust in the investigations and work of the prosecutor Martinez Burgos e I fully trust in justicebecause on March 22 it became clear what is happening in our beloved Boca.”

The complaint against Martínez dates back to March 2023. Then Florencia Marco, press officer for the club’s women’s soccer team, went to court and said that Martínez sexually harassed and abused her since early 2022. He also said that all the club authorities were aware and that no one had done anything about it.

A year later, on March 22, the trial began. for five hours 14 witnesses testified, of which 11 have an employment relationship with the club. “They only told lies,” said Andrea Lucangioli, Marco’s lawyer. She was referring to several members of the Soccer Council, such as Jorge Bermúdez, Marcelo Delgado and Raúl Cascini, who said they were unaware of the abuse while the complainant assured that she herself informed them of the harassment against her and other players.

The sentence was scheduled for Monday 25th, but Martínez’s lawyer, Ángel Romero, lodged an appeal against judge Sergio Paduczak, for alleged irregularities in the trial: “He distanced himself from his role by asking the witnesses countless induced questions, which is prohibited by the Code of Criminal Procedure,” said Romero, a lawyer for the conservative Partido Celeste party and the anti-abortion association Más Vida.

The decision on the recusal request was left in the hands of Judge Patricia Cusmanich, of the Oral Court No. 22, who sued both parties. a hearing that took place last Wednesday 3. His lawyer Romero represented Martínez and the public prosecutor Marcelo Martínez Burgos, of the Oral Prosecutor’s Office no. 22, represented Marco, since neither Marco nor his lawyer are civil parties in the case.

Last Thursday, The judge rejected Judge Paduczak’s request for recusal. “We are moving forward, we are still on the right track. The defense arguments were terrifying, truly terrible. The prosecutor took only a few minutes to present the jurisprudence and corresponding articles to approve the legality of the trial by Judge Paduczak, ” – explained the lawyer Lucangioli Clarion.

The oral hearing will resume this Wednesday 10 April at 10.30am in Comodoro Py. Arguments will be heard and the verdict will be announced.

History

Florencia Marco is 36 years old and has been working as a press officer at Boca Juniors for twelve (she is now on holiday). In 2022 you will be in charge of communication for women’s football. But immediately, she claims, the harassment and abuse began by Martínez, then coach of the First Division team. He said it too Several players suffered harassment from the coach. He said several times that he reported everything internally; and that no one has ever done anything. She was tired, she turned to the court and, only after making her complaint public, the DT was removed from her position.

She assures that no one has ever called her from the club to show solidarity or ask her how she was. AND Since he filed the complaint and was granted permission, he hasn’t gained a single peso., unlike Martínez, who has been separated from his position but continues to earn money. “They never tried to contact her from the club, they also sent her the license via email, they do everything via email”, says the lawyer. They underestimated the situation“.