Lapostol Case: Public Attorney's Office maintains that it has "strong evidence" against Araya

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SANTIAGO.- Despite acknowledging that Luis Araya, charged with the murder of businesswoman María Soledad Lapostol, "has not given any valuable information to the Public Attorney's Office", nor confessed to the crime, the Public Ministry insists that it possesses "strong evidence" implicating the defendant in the woman's kidnapping and death.

"There is strong evidence against the defendant, which will be revealed when deemed appropriate", stated Mario Schilling, spokesperson for the Public Attorney's Office. Schilling also announced that they will appeal the ruling that set Araya's girlfriend, Evelyn Cisternas, free. Cisternas had been charged with aiding and abetting.

"The Public Attorney's Office will appeal due to our strong feeling that there was a cover-up. The law specifically states that a cover-up occurs when one aids a suspect in fleeing, which would be the case here. Only spouses and direct blood-relatives are exempt from aiding and abetting (…) but this case involves a mere girlfriend", explained Schilling.

Shilling also reported that the Public Ministry will continue investigations with those close to Galaz, despite that fact that a large part of those who make up Araya Galaz's "safety net" would be family members and, therefore, exempted from guilt.