Larkin Morales, victim of a traffic accident that occurred in September 2025, and his mother, Mónica Cuque, went to the Court Tower this Friday, July 3, where they expressed their indignation at the resolution of the Ninth Criminal Sentencing Court, which favored Carlos Acevedo Navas with alternative measures.
Acevedo Navas will face trial for having repeatedly run over Morales, who was driving a motorcycle, in an event that occurred in September 2025 in zone 9 of the capital. The victim lost a leg as a result of the accident.
“We come again with that point of indignation, mainly because the decisions that are being made are contrary to what the law establishes and, since they—judges—are professionals who know the law more than we do, it is very clear that what was done is totally illegal, especially against the victim,” Cuque said.
According to her, during Thursday’s hearing, “the judge constantly leaned in favor of that feeling of making the victim the defendant” and not her son.
“It was also noted that she indicates that there are possible injuries and there cannot be possible injuries when the amputation is a fact. She still wants, as we understand, to change the legal figure that my son’s case maintains so far and the legal figure is already well advanced in a process,” said Cuque.
She said that, after the substitute measures granted, they appeal to the Public Ministry and the Supreme Court of Justice, as well as to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif), which, according to her, would be the means that the accused could use to obtain certificates indicating that he is not suitable to face proceedings, when “he is perfectly qualified.”
“What he intends is to present evidence, either from Inacif, or from a private institution where it benefits him and he is left free to not continue with a legal process. So our indignation is that and our concern. We try to still maintain that belief that the justice system is really going to get back on the path it should be. We then appeal to the judgment and truth of the people who really correspond in the process,” he expressed.
He added: “Let my son take a case in which the judges who hear from now on will be changed, because, as they are working, we do not really see the favorable conditions in a fair process. With what happened yesterday it was very clear that the process is not going to be like that and that it is already headed in a different way.”
Cuque indicated: “My son is present here, with the same indignation, trying to rescue the little justice there is in the country and we still believe that the system can go backwards and can be redirected along the path of a truly fair trial.”
While Larkin Morales stated: “I feel quite outraged by what is happening.” and a very great concern about what is happening in the country, since many accidents have happened and I am afraid that other similar cases involving accidents will not end well, but that justice will always favor criminals, those who try to take the lives of other people in accidents.
“Concerned about the direction the country is taking, the decisions that the judges make and the corruption that is clearly seen right now in my case”, he concluded.
In her resolution of July 2, Judge Verónica Ruiz took into account a circular issued by the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, in which judges were asked that preventive detention be applied as a last resort and that alternative measures be privileged.
The judge also considered that the danger of flight was eliminated because the defendant has shown a willingness to appear at the hearings of the criminal process.
Furthermore, he estimated that the danger of hindering the investigation of the truth was overcome, because the Public Ministry already has the evidence.
With information from Ángel Oliva
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