Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Details of the Murder and Motives

Sources report that Yanina Mendoza was killed on the evening of 14 May 2016 in the Yofre neighbourhood [city of Córdoba] at the intersection of Altolaguirre and Cochabamba streets (La Voz del Interior 16 May 2016; Noticias Terra 15 May 2016). According to sources, two people riding a motorcycle approached her to steal her cellphone but she put up resistance and was shot twice; one bullet impacted her head (ibid.; Cadena 3 15 May 2016) and the other her hand (Noticias Terra 15 May 2016; Día a Día 17 May 2016). La Voz del Interior, a newspaper based in Córdoba, cites a police officer as stating that Mendoza was shot at several times and two bullets made contact with her (La Voz del Interior 16 May 2016). According to the police officer, [translation] "'[the assassin] shot to kill'" (ibid.). La Voz del Interior also quotes judicial sources with knowledge of the investigation as indicating that authorities "are not totally convinced that the motive of the murder was a street robbery [gone wrong] carried out by thieves on a motorcycle" (ibid.). The same source reports that authorities were not ruling other hypotheses, including a targeted attack; law enforcement officials reportedly collected information on a street drug dealer who was riding a motorcycle in the area shortly before the murder who was asking around for a woman named "'Yanina'" (ibid.). Corroborating and additional information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Cadena 3, a radio station based in Córdoba, reports that Mendoza was not employed at the time of her murder as she was ongoing an oncological treatment (15 May 2016).

2. Investigation and Arrests

Sources report that shortly after the murder, a 17 year-old boy who was riding a motorcycle and was in possession of a .22 caliber pistol, was detained by authorities (La Voz del Interior 16 May 2016; Noticias Terra 15 May 2016) after a police chase (ibid.; Cadena 3 15 May 2016). According to La Voz del Interior, even though the boy was initially detained in connection with the murder, judicial sources indicated that [translation] "'for now' the boy does not have a concrete link with the murder," though he will remain in custody and will be charged with "illegal possession of a firearm" (16 May 2016).

Sources indicate that Daniel Paredes was arrested for the possession of Mendoza's cellphone SIM card (ibid. 30 May 2016; Día a Día 30 May 2016). Without referring to Paredes by name, Cadena 3 reports that the suspect was detained in the week that followed the murder (Cadena 3 23 May 2016). According to La Voz del Interior, Paredes is suspected of "'activating'" Mendoza's cellphone after she was murdered (30 May 2016). Sources report that he was charged with "aggravated concealment" (encubrimeinto agravado) (Cadena 3 23 May 2016; Día a Día 30 May 2016).

On 30 May 2016, sources state that Enzo Cortez was detained (ibid.; La Voz del Interior 30 May 2016) and charged with homicide (ibid.). La Voz del Interior reports that the police's Homicide Department detained the 21 year-old on 27 May 2016 in the Yapeyú neighbourhood (La Voz del Interior 31 May 2016). The same source indicates that authorities reportedly have identified the other person who participated in the murder (ibid.). Additional and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Judicial Procedures

Information on judicial procedures following the murder of Yanina Mendoza could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Cadena 3. 23 May 2016. Francisco Centeno. "Un detenido por el crimen de Yanina Mendoza en Córdoba." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2016]

Cadena 3. 15 May 2016. Carlos Castro Torres. "Asesinaron a una mujer para robarle el celular en Córdoba." [Accessed 25 Nov. 2016]

Día a Día. 30 May 2016. "Creen que detuvieron al asesino de Yanina Mendoza." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2016]

Día a Día. 17 May 2016. "Vecinos marcharon pidiendo justicia por Yanina Mendoza." [Accessed 25 Nov. 2016]

La Voz del Interior. 31 May 2016. "Preso por el asalto mortal a una madre." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2016]

La Voz del Interior. 30 May 2016. "Hay un detenido por el crimen de Yanina Mendoza." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2016]

La Voz del Interior. 16 May 2016. "Sin pistas de los asesinos de Yanina." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2016]

Noticias Terra. 15 May 2016. "Mataron de un tiro en la cabeza a una mujer para robarle el celular en Córdoba." [Accessed 25 Nov. 2016]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: BBC; Clarín; CNN; Córdoba – Fiscalía de Estado, Ministerio Público Fiscal, Policía, Portal Oficial; Crónica; El Show de la Mañana; Factiva; La Casa del Encuentro; La Nación; La Prensa; Observatorio Provincial de Violencia contra las Mujeres; Universidad Nacional de Córdoba – Cba24n.