Police lieutenant accused of femicide in high profile case sentenced to 34 years in prison

Former National Police lieutenant Germán Cáceres was sentenced to 34 years and eight months in prison Thursday for the murder of his wife, attorney María Belén Bernal. In addition to the sentence, the maximum allowed under the criminal code, Cáceres was ordered to pay Bernal’s family $234,000 in reparations.

Former National Police lieutenant Germán Cáceres during his deportation from Colombia.

Cáceres admitted committing the murder during interrogation and at the trial.

In one of the highest profile murder cases in recent history, Cáceres was charged with murdering Bernal at the National Police Training Center in Quito on September 11. According to testimony, Cáceres killed Bernal following an argument about a romantic affair Cáceres was involved in.

Following the murder, Cáceres disposed of Bernal’s body in a wooded area several kilometers from the training center.

In his confession, Cáceres said he was drunk at the time of the murder and “suffered temporary insanity.” Following the murder, he fled to Colombia, living there for several weeks before being arrested and deported to Ecuador.

Second Lieutenant Alfonso Camacho, who was prosecuted for allegedly assisting Cáceres in disposing of Bernal’s body was acquitted in the trial.