On October 28, 2021, police officers attended the scene in Lardero after a grave incident involving a nine-year-old boy named Alex. It was alleged that Francisco Javier Almeida sexually assaulted and killed the child while he was intoxicated, and witnesses claimed the boy had little chance to defend himself amid the circumstances of that night.
During the initial trial proceedings, the court reviewed Almeida’s potential sentence, including a possible long-term imprisonment for the murder of a minor and the sexual assault charges. The defendant asserted that he could not recall the events of that day due to his emotional state and the amount he had consumed, implying memory loss from intoxication and distressing experiences from the day in question.
Those present, including the lead investigator, a sergeant who oversaw the case, stated that there was no indication Almeida was intoxicated when he was contacted. They testified that his breath did not present a noticeable odor of alcohol and that his demeanor did not appear confused or hallucinatory. This testimony came in response to questions from prosecutor Enrique Stern and special counsel Alicia Redondo, who pressed for clarity about the defendant’s condition at the time of the events.
Images on the portal
During Monday’s session, images from the Lardero portal where Almeida resided were shown. The footage depicted Almeida engaging with the minor and appearing to invite her to go upstairs. The recording suggested that, at a later moment, he directed her to take the elevator, though the sequence of actions remained under careful judicial review.
The investigation team also described injuries observed on the child, including marks on the neck consistent with suffocation from behind, as well as injuries to the arms and lifting movements. There were noticeable abrasions around the mouth, the upper gums, and the inner lip, described in court as severe signs. These findings contributed to the prosecution’s presentation of the alleged violence used against the victim in the events under examination.
Meanwhile, Almeida’s defense argued that there were several beer bottles present in the kitchen, framing this detail within the broader context of the day without asserting direct correlates to the alleged acts. The defense’s position emphasized the need to consider all factors involved and cautioned against drawing hasty conclusions from fragments of the evidence. The case continues to unfold as the court weighs testimonies, physical evidence, and the overall circumstances surrounding the night in question.