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Nahir Galarza case

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Murder of Fernando Pastorizzo
Nahir Galarza being interviewed in prison, 2019
LocationGualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina
Date29 December 2017; 6 years ago (2017-12-29)
c. 05:22 a.m. (UTC−03:00)
Attack type
Murder by shooting
Weapon9 mm pistol
VictimFernando Pastorizzo
PerpetratorNahir Galarza

The Nahir Galarza case was an Argentine judicial process, officially called "Galarza, Nahir Mariana s/homicidio doblemente agravado", in which 19-year-old Nahir Mariana Galarza (born 11 September 1998) was convicted of murdering her 20-year-old boyfriend Fernando Pastorizzo (born 3 January 1997), at dawn 29 December 2017, in the city of Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina, where both lived.[1][2] The case was widely covered by both national and international media.[3][4]

Galarza was sentenced to life imprisonment for homicide, which was aggravated by the fact that she and Pastorizzo were under a stable relationship.

Perpetrator

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Nahir Galarza was born on 11 September 1998 to Yamina Kroh and Marcelo Galarza, an officer of the provincial police. At the time of the crime, Nahir was a law student at Universidad de Concepción del Uruguay[5] and played field hockey, which may have influenced in the case, turning her aggressive.

When she was sixteen, there was a kidnapping report after she was missing for one day, but it was soon discovered that the kidnapping was false.[6]

Background

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Nahir and Fernando Gabriel Pastorizzo, born 3 January 1997, lived in Gualeguaychú, a city with a population of around 100,000 inhabitants located 25 km (15.5 mi) west of the border with Uruguay.[7] Around 2012 they started a relationship whose nature was one of the main objects of discussion in the case. While Nahir's defenders supported the thesis that the couple only had casual sexual encounters, the prosecution upheld the version that they constituted a couple, even though they did not live together. The latter version was the one accepted by the court. In January 2018, investigators confirmed, through text messages and some photographs of Pastorizzo and Nahir together with her family, that they travelled to Brazil in the summer of 2016, which strongly supported the couple thesis[8] in addition to confirming that Galarza's family knew Pastorizzo, which they initially denied.[9][10]

Another theme regarding the case was the circumstances under which the couple's relationship developed. Pieces of evidence such as text messages, Twitter posts, testimonies and others[11] suggest that it was full of violence, fights, and temporary reconciliations. To Nahir's family, she was the one suffering violence from Pastorizzo. Her mother, Yamina Kroh, said that her defenders and prosecutors maintained opposite stances; while the former claimed that the aggressor was the victim, Pastorizzo, the latter claimed it was the accused, Nahir. However, the court dismissed that Nahir suffered physical violence from Pastorizzo.[12] The Superior Justice Court of Entre Ríos asserted that "Nahir Galarza's defense wanted to demonize the victim".[13][14] Regarding this matter there was also much commentary, with numerous opinions and declarations—some from friends and family of both Nahir and Pastorizzo—that were published on social media.[15][16]

Crime

[edit]

Fernando Pastorizzo was murdered on 26 December 2017, at the Tomás de Rocamora neighbourhood in Gualeguaychú, by two firearm shots. His body was found lying on the ground, beside his motorcycle, without signs of robbery. Shortly before the murder, he was driving Nahir on his motorcycle. The girl then walked about twenty blocks back to her home.

After Pastorizzo's corpse was found in the morning, Nahir published a photograph of her and Pastorizzo on social media with the following description:

5 years together, fighting, going forward and coming back, but always with the same love. I love you forever, my angel.

— Nahir Galarza, December 2017.[17]

Nahir acknowledged her authorship of the crime first to her parents and then to authorities. She asserted that she shot with her father's gun, a 9 mm she had taken with her, and then returned it to where she had found it without her father noticing. She also explained that she first shot him in his back and then in his chest.[18][19][20]

In footage obtained by police from a private security camera, a person physically similar to Galarza is seen walking around 5:22 a.m. some six blocks away from the location of Pastorizzo's murder.[21][22] According to the prosecution, this footage was pivotal in situating Galarza in the crime scene, even though her family denied that the person filmed was her.[23]

Galarza was prosecuted for "bond-aggravated homicide" and she was arrested under preventive detention, a condition under which she remained until her conviction.[24]

Conviction

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On 3 July 2018, Nahir Galarza was declared guilty of aggravated murder (which means her crime was considered more serious because she was in a stable relationship with the victim) and condemned to life imprisonment.[1][25] Even though the court rejected aggravations for firearm usage and cheating that were proposed by the prosecution, this sentence means that Nahir would effectively have to serve at least 35 years in prison.[1][26]

To date, she is the youngest woman in Argentina to have been sentenced to life imprisonment (she was 19 years, 7 months and 21 days old at the time).[27] However, she is not the youngest woman to have committed the act punishable with that sentence. In 2016, also in Entre Ríos, Paula Araceli Benítez received the same sentence for the murder of her mother when she was 18 in April 2015, but at the moment of her conviction she was only 19 years, 8 months and 1 day old, a few days older than Galarza.[28]

Evidence that Nahir and Pastorizzo had a stable union was obtained from testimonies and documents such as photographs, text and internet messages, etc., while forensic analysis rejected the thesis that the shots were accidental (according to an expert, the first of the two shots had a 50% percent of being accidental, but the second was clearly intentional, 50 centimeters from Pastorizzo). Finally, it was concluded that there was no evidence of aggression by Pastorizzo, rejecting this extenuating circumstance proposed by Nahir's defense.[25]

On 4 September 2018, it was announced that Galarza would be transferred to a common women's penitentiary, Unidad Penal 6 de Paraná, after staying the longest time allowed by law under custody in a police station (eight months).[29] Finally, on 10 September, Entre Ríos' penitentiary service transferred Nahir Galarza to the penitentiary, the only women's jail in Entre Ríos, where Galarza and other nine inmates reside.[30]

In August 2019, an appellate court rejected an appeal by Nahir's defense, confirming her life imprisonment.[31] In that same year, it was reported that Nahir, among other activities in prison, dedicated herself to the study of psychology.[32][33]

In March 2020, the Supreme Justice Court of Entre Ríos rejected another appeal to revert Nahir Galarza's life imprisonment. In total, her defense made two appeals, and both were rejected.[34]

In January 2022, with help from her mother Yanina Kroh, Nahir hired a different defender.[35] They then reported Nahir's father and Kroh's husband, Marcelo Galarza, for aggression,[36] but this accusation was rejected.[37][38] Notwithstanding, there is a restraining order prohibiting Marcelo Galarza from getting close to either Kroh or the penitentiary where his daughter resides.[39]

The National Court is the last and only means of appeal that Nahir's defense still has to revise her life imprisonment.[40]

Reception

[edit]
Title card of a documentary about the case

The murder of young Pastorizzo was widely covered by both Argentine media and some international media. It made the headlines of several newspapers and was the focus of numerous news reports in radio and television. A few days after the event came to light, the Galarza family hired a public relations agent that provided the press with some photographs of Nahir when she was a baby.[5][41]

The case was also the subject of diverging opinions on social media. The personal accounts of Nahir were filled with both support and condemnation messages. Her Instagram account was terminated after her imprisonment, but came back twelve days later on Tuesday, 10 January, with some changes such as blurred photos and some profiles unfollowed. It surpassed 30,000 followers in only twenty four hours. Shortly afterwards, however, the account was removed again. This was followed by numerous follower-made accounts posting pictures of Galarza.[42]

On 2 January 2018, a demonstration took place in front of Gualeguaychú's courts, with hundreds of people holding signs and pictures of the victim, Fernando Pastorizzo, protesting against the supposedly priviliged conditions under which Nahir Galarza found herself.[43][44]

On 3 January 2018, the day in which Pastorizzo would turn 21, friends and family members published a supporting message and photographs of him with memories, asking for justice and repudiating Galarza's crime.[45][46]

On 10 July 2018, a group called Todo preso es político ("Every prisoner is a political prisoner") promoted a demonstration in front of Casa de Entre Ríos in Buenos Aires to demand "immediate freedom" for Nahir Galarza, with slogans such as "A male's death is not just a metaphor; fear will change sides". This group speaks about "hetero-patriarchal violence" and "hegemonic feminism" and asserted that "in the last six months Nahir Galarza has suffered a true witch hunt led by communication means, the judiciary and the commonly called public opinion".[47]

List of media centered on the case

[edit]

Literature

[edit]
  • 2018, Nahir, La historia desconocida ("Nahir, The Unknown Story") by Mauro Szeta (ISBN 9789500762274).
  • 2021, El silencio de Nahir ("Nahir's Silence") by Jorge Zonzini (ISBN 9789504974154).

Television

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  • In January 2022, a television series called Nahir: la historia desconocida, based on the book with the same name by Mauro Szeta and Mauro Fulco, was announced on HBO Max.[48] To date, the series has not premiered.
  • In June 2024, a two-episode documentary titled Nahir, el secreto de un crimen ("Nahir, the Secret of a Crime") premiered on Prime Video. It covers the case from different points of view and includes testimonies from Nahir, her parents and friends and Pastorizzo's family.[49]

Film

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Caso Nahir Galarza: una foto y un buzo, entre los fundamentos que la condenaron a cadena perpetua". TN (in Spanish). Argentina. 24 July 2018. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Asesinaron a balazos a un joven de 20 años en Gualeguaychú: su ex novia confesó el crimen". La Nación (in Spanish). Argentina. 30 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Los escalofriantes detalles que reveló Nahir Galarza del asesinato de su novio". 24 horas (in Spanish). 13 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  4. ^ ""Te amo para siempre": el mensaje de una joven a su novio después de matarlo a tiros". Univision. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Nahir Galarza: la familia busca limpiar su imagen con un álbum de fotos". Todo Noticias (in Spanish). Argentina. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Nahir Galarza había denunciado un secuestro que nunca se pudo comprobar". La Nación (in Spanish). 3 January 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Dirección General de Estadística y Censo. Provincia de Entre Ríos según área de gobierno location. Población por sexo. Año 2010" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Caso Nahir Galarza: un año de chats y una foto en Brasil pueden ser claves para resolver el crimen de Gualeguaychú". Infobae (in Spanish). Argentina. 8 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Caso Nahir Galarza: un año de chats y una foto en Brasil pueden ser claves para resolver el crimen de Gualeguaychú". Infobae (in Spanish). Argentina. 8 January 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Se confirmó el viaje a Brasil entre la familia de Nahir y Fernando". Uno Entre Rios (in Spanish). 8 January 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  11. ^ La Nación (8 January 2018). "El caso Nahir Galarza: mensajes de WhatsApp, acusaciones por violencia de género y otros indicios que se analizan en la causa" (in Spanish). Argentina. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  12. ^ La Nación (7 July 2018). "El tribunal descartó la hipótesis de los abogados" (in Spanish). Argentina. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  13. ^ cienradios (24 April 2020). ""La defensa de Nahir Galarza quiso demonizar a la víctima", afirmó el Superior Tribunal de Justicia" (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  14. ^ ""La defensa de Galarza quiso demonizar a la víctima", dijo el STJ". unoentrerios.com.ar (in Spanish). 23 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  15. ^ Infobae (5 January 2018). "Nahir Galarza, la chica que mató de dos tiros a su novio: ¿homicida, víctima y psicópata?" (in Spanish). Argentina. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  16. ^ López, Vanesa (3 January 2018). "Crimen de Gualeguaychú: la víctima quería sacarse de encima a Nahir, cortó el vínculo y se mostró aliviado". Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  17. ^ ""Te amo para siempre": el macabro mensaje de Nahir Galarza a su novio después de asesinarlo". Infobae (in Spanish). Argentina. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  18. ^ "Crimen en Gualeguaychú: joven de 19 años ejecutó de dos disparos a su exnovio". Diario Perfil (in Spanish). Argentina. 30 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  19. ^ "Informaron nuevos datos sobre cómo confesó Nahir Galarza que había matado a su novio". lanueva (in Spanish). Argentina. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  20. ^ "Nuevos detalles de la confesión de Nahir Galarza: contó cómo preparó el arma para matar a Fernando Pastorizzo". Infobae (in Spanish). Argentina. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  21. ^ "Difunden un video que ubicaría a Nahir Galarza en el lugar del crimen". Diario Perfil. Argentina. 4 January 2018. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Para el fiscal, Nahir Galarza caminó 20 cuadras después de matar a sangre fría a su ex novio". Clarín (in Spanish). Argentina. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  23. ^ "Un video ubicaría a Nahir Galarza abandonando la escena del crimen". eldiaonline (in Spanish). 5 January 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  24. ^ Infobae (12 January 2018). "La Justicia de Gualeguaychú analiza trasladar a Nahir Galarza a una granja" (in Spanish). Argentina. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  25. ^ a b "El crimen de Gualeguaychú. Nahir Galarza: las tres claves que definieron la prisión perpetua". Clarín (in Spanish). 3 July 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  26. ^ Clarín (3 July 2018). "El crimen de Gualeguaychú. Nahir Galarza: las tres claves que definieron la prisión perpetua" (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  27. ^ "La historia de la chica entrerriana que había sido condenada a perpetua antes que Nahir Galarza". Clarín (in Spanish). Argentina. 5 July 2018. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  28. ^ Clarín (5 July 2018). "La historia de la chica entrerriana que había sido condenada a perpetua antes que Nahir Galarza" (in Spanish). Argentina. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  29. ^ El País (5 September 2018). "Nahir Galarza, condenada a cadena perpetua por matar a su novio, será trasladada a una cárcel común". El País (in Spanish). Espanha. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  30. ^ Clarín (10 September 2018). "Nahir Galarza ya fue trasladada a una cárcel común". Argentina. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  31. ^ elonce (14 August 2019). "Confirmaron la pena de prisión perpetua para Nahir Galarza - Policiales" (in Spanish). Argentina.
  32. ^ infobae (3 July 2021). "A tres años de la condena, la nueva Nahir Galarza y la sorprendente teoría del crimen que tiene su abogada" (in Spanish). Argentina. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  33. ^ El once (16 February 2019). "Nahir decidió estudiar Psicología: También empezó corte y confección" (in Spanish). Argentina. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  34. ^ La Voz del Interior (4 March 2020). "Nahir Galarza seguirá presa: el Tribunal Supremo entrerriano rechazó impugnar la perpetua" (in Spanish). Argentina.
  35. ^ A24 (11 January 2022). "Sigue el escándalo: La mamá de Nahir Galarza apoya la versión de su hija" (in Spanish). Argentina. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ Coperativa (10 January 2022). "El padre de Nahir Galarza habló tras la acusación de su hija: "Todo esto es muy fuerte"" (in Spanish). Chile. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  37. ^ Ámbito Financiero (10 January 2022). "Caso Nahir Galarza: la Justicia desestimó la denuncia contra su padre por la muerte de Fernando Pastorizzo" (in Spanish). Argentina. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  38. ^ negocios (8 January 2022). "¿Quién es Marcelo Galarza, padre de Nahir?" (in Spanish). Argentina. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  39. ^ Perfil (13 January 2020). "Nahir Galarza declaró ante la Justicia y reiteró su versión del crimen de Pastorizzo: "Mi papá lo mató"" (in Spanish). Argentina. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  40. ^ La Nación (8 January 2022). "Nahir decidió estudiar Psicología: También empezó corte y confección" (in Spanish). Argentina. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  41. ^ diariopopular (9 January 2018). "Nahir Galarza: un manager de famosos para limpiar la imagen" (in Spanish). Argentina. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  42. ^ Clarín (12 January 2018). "Cerraron el Instagram de Nahir Galarza, pero aparecieron cuentas de sus "fans"" (in Spanish). Argentina. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  43. ^ Diario Perfil (2 January 2018). "Multitudinaria marcha para pedir justicia por el crimen de Fernando Pastorizzo" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  44. ^ "Nahir Galarza: ¿cuándo podemos hablar de violencia de género?". laprimerapiedra.com.ar (in Spanish). 2 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  45. ^ Todo Noticias (3 January 2018). "Los compañeros de Fernando Pastorizzo lo homenajearon en el día en que cumpliría años" (in Spanish). Argentina. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  46. ^ viapais (3 January 2018). "El homenaje de los compañeros de Fernando Pastorizzo en el día en que cumpliría años" (in Spanish). Argentina. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  47. ^ Página/12 (July 2018). "Reclamo por Nahir" (in Spanish). Argentina. Retrieved 1 September 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  48. ^ Short story writer (7 January 2022). "La serie de Nahir Galarza ya tiene fecha de estreno: cuándo es, por dónde verla, quiénes participan y todo lo que se sabe" (in Spanish). Argentina. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  49. ^ "Nahir Galarza reapareció en un nuevo documental sobre su vida: La entrevista desde la cárcel y las imágenes inéditas". 15 June 2024.
  50. ^ "Se estrena "Nahir", la película sobre la argentina más joven en ser condenada a prisión perpetua" (in Spanish). Argentina. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
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