Overview
- The oral trial is scheduled across six Monday hearings from February 23 to March 30 before Criminal Court No. 14.
- Judges Enrique Gamboa, Gabriel Vega and Gustavo Valle will preside over the proceedings.
- The prosecution will be led by Fiscalía 14’s Fernando María Klappenbach with auxiliary prosecutor Francisco Figueroa, following a filing by fiscal Martín Mainardi.
- Investigators say the fire likely began with a lighter and an aerosol, and expert reports indicate Melchor Rodrigo had taken medication that could cause profound central nervous system depression, leaving him unable to escape; firefighters found him badly burned near the exit.
- The victim’s family will participate as civil plaintiffs, and Pettinato has a 2024 conviction for sexual abuse of a minor with a nine‑month suspended sentence that was later upheld.