The Ninth Criminal Appeals Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice of Lima has upheld the nine-month preventive detention measure against Adrián Villar Chirinos, accused of negligent homicide and failure to assist in relation to the death of athlete Lizeth Marzano. Villar, who is currently held at the Miguel Castro Castro prison, has been subject to this decision following the fatal hit-and-run incident involving Marzano.
During the hearing held on March 26, Villar’s defense argued that the process could continue without the need for incarceration. However, the prosecution advocated for preventive detention, citing the risk of flight and the necessity to ensure the continuity of the investigations. The court deemed that there are sufficient indications to keep Villar in custody, particularly due to the lack of ties and connections that would guarantee his presence in the country.
Moreover, the seriousness of the charges was taken into account, as the prosecution has proposed a sentence that could exceed five years. This aspect, along with the fact that Villar did not assist the victim and fled the scene of the accident, was crucial in the judicial decision. For more details on this case, you can refer to the information regarding the vote count in the 2026 elections.
