The minor who shot presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay with a Glock on June 7 of this year during a political rally in Bogotá was sentenced to seven years for the assassination. During a campaign event in Bogotá, Miguel Uribe Turbay, senator and then presidential candidate, was the victim of an attack in which he received a shot to the head. The attack was carried out by a 14-year-old minor who, according to the investigation by the Prosecutor's Office, was allegedly hired to commit the crime.
After the attack, Uribe was rushed to the Santa Fe Foundation, where he remained in critical condition for several weeks. Although he initially showed slight improvement, his neurological prognosis remained reserved. Finally, on August 11 of this year, the political leader died from the serious injuries sustained by the bullet.
He was prosecuted for attempted murder and illegal possession of weapons, which he ultimately accepted before a judge specializing in juvenile justice. The minor's defense appealed the decision. Meanwhile, Víctor Mosquera, the Uribe Turbay family's attorney, said the decision was respected despite the low sentence.
"Under the Law on Children and Adolescents, one of the highest penalties was imposed on the minor who murdered Miguel Uribe Turbay: 84 months. We respect the decision, but this penalty never commensurate with the life he took or the pain he caused. This law encourages crime to use minors without real and effective punishment," said the jurist.
Possible places of confinement
The young man convicted of shooting Senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay will not be sent to a traditional prison. Because he is 15 years old, the sentence translates into specific plans, in a specialized center, aimed at his social rehabilitation.
According to the Attorney General's Office, since the suspect is a minor, his sentence will be served in a specialized center for adolescents under the Adolescent Criminal Responsibility System, established by Law 1098 of 2006.
For security reasons, the minor will remain temporarily in a special area of the Prosecutor's Office bunker in Bogotá, isolated and under constant surveillance, while the conditions for his permanent transfer to a specialized center are determined.
In Bogotá, there is the El Redentor Prison, a specialized detention center for adolescents located in the town of Tunjuelito in southern Bogotá and managed by the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF).
The minor is in the witness protection program, and the ICBF will determine where he will serve his sentence, so other options are being considered. In fact, the Institute could decide with the Prosecutor's Office where he will serve his sentence, depending on security conditions.
The assassination of Miguel Uribe sparked national unrest and reshaped the political landscape in Colombia, as the senator was a leading contender in the presidential race.
The other defendants are Carlos Eduardo Mora, alias El Veneco; Katerine Andrea Martínez, alias Gabriela; William Fernando González; Cristian Camilo González; and Elder José Arteaga, known by the alias"El Costeño" and alleged logistical coordinator for the hit.
