The criminal process for the death of Melisa Palacios Chacón will be known by him Court of higher risk C In Guatemala City, after the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) Solve move the file from Chiquimula.
This decision was adopted June 9, 2025after considering the procedural risks and the Threats received by the victim’s family.
The resolution responds to formal applications submitted by the Public Ministry (MP)he Victim Institute and the relatives of Palacios, who pointed out that the process could not continue in adequate conditions in their original jurisdiction.
Request transfer by threats and presence of armed people
According to the lawyer of the victim’s institute, Juan Carlos Aquilthe case was transferred due to the existence of factors that endanger the impartiality of the process.
As proof, the presence of armed people in audiencesinadequate physical conditions of the court of origin and direct risks for the family of the deceased girl.
“The criminal chamber determined that there are all the elements to consider this case as one of High impactso he will be known by the judge Carol Yesenia Berganza of the Court of higher risk Cbased in the capital, ”Aquil explained.
Fernanda Bonilla and your bodyguard, Luis Marroquínthey face criminal proceedings for homicide in a state of violent emotion and now they must appear before the Court of greatest risk C in the capital to solve their legal situation.
The victim’s institute expressed its tailored support, ensuring that it is a decision “attached to law and necessary to guarantee a fair, transparent and focus on the rights of victims. ”
Than the Case of Melisa Palacios is taken to a court of greater risk means that the judicial process will be managed under a Specialized jurisdiction that it provides greater guarantees of security, impartiality and protectionboth for the actors of the process (as judges, prosecutors, lawyers and witnesses) and for the victim’s relatives
TRANSFER TO COURT OF GREATER RISK
The most risky courts are designed to attend High impact casesin which there is a risk of intimidation, violence, corruption or external interferenceas threats to the family or presence of armed people.
According to the Victima Institute, that the case of Melisa Palacios is taken to a court of greater risk means that the case will have:
1. Special conditions for the process
The case moves to a Court with the highest security infrastructure and trained personnel to handle complex processes, which can involve criminal structures or powerful influence networks.
2. Greater confidentiality and process control
They are taken stricter measures to avoid leaks, pressures or interferencewhich allows the trial to be carried out more objectively andly.
3. Recognition of the severity of the case
By assigning it to a court of greater risk, the judicial system recognizes that The death of Melisa Palacios is not a common casebut one that requires specialized attention for its gravity and the conditions surrounding the process.
What function does the most risky courts in Guatemala?
The Most risky courts were created to know complex criminal cases in which there is Risks for judges, prosecutors, lawyers or victimsor when it comes to criminal structures with the ability to interfere with judicial processes.
These courts were formally established in 2009 through the Decree 21-2009, Criminal Competition Law in Higher Risk Processeswhich replaced a previous agreement issued by the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ).
The objective is to centralize the most delicate cases in courts with greater conditions of safety and preparation.
What crimes are the competence of the most risky courts?
The law establishes that these courts must know cases linked to crimes such as:
- Murder
- Extrajudicial execution
- Genocide
- Plagiarism or kidnapping
- Parricide
- Femicide
- Facts typified in the Law against organized crime
- Cases contemplated in the Money Laundering Law and other assets
- Crimes with sentences over 15 years in the Law against narcoactivity
- Infractions stipulated in the Law to prevent and suppress terrorism financing
Melisa Palacios case
Melisa Palacios Chacón disappeared the July 4, 2021after leaving your home to attend a birthday celebration. When he did not reach his destination, his family reported it as disappeared and the Isabel-Claudina alert.
He August 25, 2021he Public Ministry captured in Antigua Guatemala to María Fernanda Bonilla Archila and your bodyguard José Luis Marroquín Ovallewho were identified as the main suspects of the Killer’s murder.
With the Fourth Anniversary of Crime next to be fulfilled, the July 5, 2025Melisa’s mother said that this transfer represents an important advance in the search for justice and a necessary step to close a painful chapter.
The article may also be interested: Melisa Palacios Guatemala: The chronology of the death of the young woman in Zacapa in 2021.