A Coruña, Jul 3 (EFE).- Some 250 people have gathered this Monday in front of the Riazor beach to observe a minute of silence for Samuel Luiz on the two-year anniversary of his murder.
Neighbors of the city, members of the Municipal Corporation and friends of the young man who received a beating that ended his life on a party night went to the Buenos Aires avenue, where he was murdered, to pay him tribute and lay flowers as a souvenir.
Ana García, president of ALAS A Coruña, the LGTBI+ association that has convened this vigil, has assured that it is a day to “remember Samuel” and “continue asking for justice for this brutal crime.”
Although a manifesto was not read, some of those present have commented that they hope there will be “a trial soon” and that two years later it is “very important” to honor his memory.
Once the minute of silence ended with loud applause and an artist played two songs, the almost 250 people who participated in the tribute went to Buenos Aires avenue to leave flowers in the exact place where he was killed.
Samuel’s case is still open and awaiting trial, in which there will be a popular jury. Of the seven investigated by the National Police, three men are in prison, a girl has been free since July 9, 2021, and another detainee, who spent a month in prison, is now free.
The two boys who were minors at the time of the crime were sentenced to three and a half years of closed confinement as perpetrators of a crime of murder for their participation in the events.
One of the key issues to be determined in the trial is whether it is a homophobic crime, since the police investigation has revealed evidence regarding comments by some of the defendants about their hatred of homosexuals.
This issue has caused Samuel Luiz, who was helped by the Senegalese Ibrahima Diack and Magatte Ndiaye, who could do nothing to save him, to become an icon of the LGTBI+ fight.
From ALAS they hope that the trial will be held “sooner rather than later” and that what happened with Samuel “will not be forgotten.”