I'm going to die here in prison: said the convict alias Ángelo upon hearing his sentence of 37 years in prison
Foreigners Alias Ángelo and Porki were convicted of the murder of journalist Cindy Natalia Castillo Preciado
Ángel Rolando Colina Lugo, alias "Ángelo", has been sentenced to 37 years in prison for his participation in the murder of UN journalist Cindy Natalia Castillo Preciado, which occurred in December 2021 in the Galerías sector, Bogotá . The man was found guilty of the crime of aggravated homicide, as well as qualified and aggravated robbery, robbery by computer means, and aggravated manufacture, trafficking and possession of firearms or ammunition.
The trial judge handed down the sentence after the compelling evidence delivered by the Attorney General's Office, which demonstrated Angelo's co-authorship in the murder of the journalist.
The criminal "Ángelo", after hearing his sentence, told the judge that he was practically sentencing him for life. "I'm going to die here," said the journalist's murderer.
According to investigations, Natalia Castillo and two of her friends were approached by two Venezuelan citizens, including the now convicted, while they were leaving an establishment in the Galerías sector.
The assailants, armed, demanded the delivery of all the group's belongings. Castillo's two friends handed over her belongings, but she clung to her bag, which triggered a fatal shot by one of the assailants, who then fled the scene.
The journalist was taken by her colleagues to the Palermo Clinic, where she finally lost her life due to her serious injuries. The assailants escaped in a vehicle that was waiting for them and went to the Santa Fe neighborhood, in the center of Bogotá. The videos from security cameras were crucial in the criminal proceedings to determine the responsibility of Ángelo, as well as his accomplice, Javier Enrique Ramírez Gómez, alias "Porki".
In the development of the investigation, the Prosecutor's Office was also able to verify that hours after the theft, withdrawals and movements were made in the victim's bank accounts, events that were carried out by Javier Enrique Ramírez Gómez, who admitted his participation in the events. During his interrogation, "Porki" stated that he was contacted by Ángelo and other friends to make a withdrawal from an ATM, receiving a commission for it.
The sentence of 37 years in prison for Ángel Rolando Colina Lugo puts an end to almost two years of seeking justice for the family and friends of the deceased journalist. The resolution also sends a strong message about the seriousness of these crimes and the determination of the authorities to bring to justice those who threaten the lives and safety of citizens.