The judges of the Second Collegiate Court of the National District sentenced 26-year old Gabriel Villanueva to 20 years in prison on Wednesday, 24 March 2021. He was found guilty of causing the death of his girlfriend, 21-year old Andreea Celea by throwing her from the eighth floor of the hotel where they were staying in Bella Vista, Santo Domingo.
The judges said that the autopsy showed that Celea fell by parabolic precipitation, which occurs when a force from a third party propels the body and that only the two of them were in the room, which makes Villanueva criminally responsible.
The homicide occurred on 1 September 2018. The Public Prosecutor’s Office had accused Villanueva of involuntary manslaughter and asked for 20 years of imprisonment. He is in jail since 2018 in San Pedro de Macorís.
The defense of the young woman had requested 30 years in prison, arguing that the then boyfriend, physically and psychologically abused the woman. The court awarded a RD$5 million indemnity to the family of the victim.
Celea was of Romanian origin and had become a Dominican citizen.
Celea’s mother, Anka Voicila, on her way out of the courtroom thanked God and all those who have been supporting the family in the process.
“A lot of pain which will not end, but at least I will be able to give closure to this,” she said. “For a mother no time is enough but we thank God because even this sentence, even if it was only 20 years, was made possible and most of all Andrea was not what they presented and Andrea did not commit suicide,” she said.
Villanueva at all times maintained his innocence and insisted that Celea had committed suicide.
The judges — Clarivel Nivar Arias, Yissell Soto Peña and Deiby Peguero Jiménez had announced the decision would be read at 11pm, but left everyone waiting for more than three hours.
The defense of Gabriel Villanueva said they would appeal the case.
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Diario Libre
Hoy
24 March 2021