The Justice is considering reducing the sentence of Daniel Lagostena, sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder of Érica Soriano, due to the benefit known as “educational incentive,” after having pursued studies during his time in prison.
The measure could imply a reduction of one year and three months in his sentence, which he received for murdering and burning the remains of his victim.
According to reports, the Execution Judge Juan Ignacio Sorrentino has already granted this benefit to the convicted, a decision that was appealed by the victim's family before the Criminal Chamber of the Judicial Department of Lomas de Zamora. It will be Chamber III of that instance that must resolve in the coming days whether to uphold or revoke the magistrate's decision.
Daniel Lagostena and Érica Soriano
Lagostena is currently serving his sentence at Unit No. 1 of Olmos, in pavilion 4 of the Buenos Aires Penitentiary Service.
According to the calculation of the Buenos Aires Criminal Cassation Chamber, his sentence expires on October 1, 2037, so he still has at least 11 years in prison remaining. However, if the reduction for the educational incentive is realized, he could access assisted release on September 1, 2028.
The benefit under consideration is based on the "educational activities" that the murderer developed during his time in prison.
Among them are the Higher Technical Degree in Textile Industry and Clothing at the Teacher Training and Technical Institute 136, the Sociology Teaching Degree at the University of La Plata, and the Bachelor's Degree in Sociology at the National University of La Plata.
Daniel Lagostena
Additionally, Lagostena took courses in food handling, cooking, baking, web programming, mobile device programming, residential electrical installation, bag and backpack making, and digital skills.
The murder of Érica Soriano
The case originates from the disappearance of Érica Soriano, who was last seen on August 21, 2010, in the Buenos Aires party of Lanús. The judicial investigation determined that the young woman was murdered in the accused's home between the night of August 20 and the afternoon of the following day, and that her remains were burned.
On July 11, 2018, the Oral Criminal Court No. 9 of Lomas de Zamora, composed of judges Victoria Ballvé, Darío Bellucci, and Juan Manuel Rial, sentenced Lagostena to 22 years in prison for the crime of “homicide in ideal competition with abortion in the context of gender violence.”
During the trial, more than 40 witnesses testified, including former partners of the accused, who recounted similar episodes of violence.
After the ruling, the defense, led by lawyer Francisco Oneto, filed various appeals before the Cassation Chamber and subsequently before the Supreme Court, alleging “an absurd evaluation of the evidence” and requesting a review of the sentence.
On December 18, 2022, the Supreme Court rejected the extraordinary appeal as “inadmissible,” signed by Horacio Rosatti, Carlos Rosenkrantz, Juan Carlos Maqueda, and Ricardo Lorenzetti, which upheld the sentence.
Now, the possibility of a sentence reduction based on the studies conducted in prison brings the case back into the judicial arena, awaiting a decision from the Chamber of Lomas de Zamora
