Prosecutors in Temuco have formally charged 24-year-old Emmanuel Ochoa with the murder of his 20-year-old niece, Francisca Millahual. During the hearing, the defendant maintained that the death of the veterinary student was an accident caused by the negligent handling of a firearm.
However, the Prosecution has dismissed this version of events following an analysis of the evidence collected at the crime scene. Prosecutor Francisco Montesinos stated that the findings contradict the theory of an accidental discharge.
Evidence contradicting the defendant's version
"In his statement, he admits that the firearm used in the killing was his, but he claims the victim had taken the weapon and was playing with it when it went off. However, this does not align with the state of the crime scene, the victim's other injuries, or the defendant's behavior following the incident," the prosecutor explained.
According to the investigation, the young woman was house-sitting for her grandmother when she met up with her uncle. Following the incident, the defendant allegedly wrapped the victim's body in sheets and fled the scene.
Ochoa also reportedly attempted to dispose of the firearm by throwing it near the Cautín River, an item that police have yet to recover. Prosecutors argue these actions demonstrate a clear intent to evade criminal responsibility.
The suspect remained a fugitive for several days, hiding in an abandoned bus until he was apprehended in the city of Lanco. His arrest came after members of an evangelical church suggested he surrender to the authorities.
Meanwhile, Juan Francisco Arriagada, the defendant's brother, called on authorities to carry out their duties to ensure a clear verdict. "All we want is for the Prosecution and the PDI to do their jobs (...) so that we can have a final outcome that brings peace to my sister, to the family and, as I have said many times: justice," he stated.
The court has ordered pretrial detention for Ochoa and has set a six-month deadline to conclude the investigation.