Canadian journalist questions Quintana Roo femicide acquittal

Chetumal, Quintana Roo – The Quintana Roo Security Cabinet conference became uncomfortable for authorities with the participation of renowned Canadian journalist Avery Haines, who directly questioned state authorities about the 2023 femicide of Kiara Agnew and the controversial acquittal granted in 2024 to her romantic partner, Ryan Friesen.

Representing Canadian Television (CTV), Haines stated that the judicial resolution provoked outrage in Canada, including protests in front of Mexican consulates, since the victim was found dead in a Riviera Maya hotel with the suspect by her side.

Through a translator, the reporter raised the question regarding the ruling issued on September 11, 2024, despite evidence gathered during the investigation.

In response, Aroshi de los Ángeles Lugo Arana, prosecutor of the Southern Zone and representative of the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) in the absence of prosecutor Raciel López Salazar, confirmed that the agency has already appealed the sentence. She explained that the appeal was admitted on October 2 of last year and is currently under analysis by a magistrate.

The Prosecutor’s Office maintains that it has sufficient evidence to prove the defendant’s responsibility, beyond the reasonable doubt interpreted by the first-instance judge.

The prosecutor detailed that during the trial, testimonies, expert opinions, and scientific evidence were presented that, in her opinion, prove that the defendant took Kiara Agnew’s life through blows.

She even recalled that, on the day of the events, Ryan Friesen presented injured knuckles, had blood and tissue from the victim on his body, and Kiara’s DNA under his nails, although the defense managed to argue that such injuries did not correspond with the mechanics of the femicide.

This contradiction between scientific evidence and judicial assessment was precisely what motivated Haines’ questioning, who insisted that experts in Canada do not understand how an acquittal ruling could have been issued.

Faced with this, Lugo Arana limited herself to pointing out that in a trial the parties present arguments and it is up to the judge to make a determination, reiterating that the FGE is focused on revoking the judicial decision. She also indicated that the suspect has a history of violence.

The case, which continues to generate international attention, shows the pressure faced by Quintana Roo’s justice system regarding femicides and the social demand for resolutions that guarantee certainty, gender perspective, and adherence to evidence.

Currently, a petition on Change.org demanding justice for Kiara Agnew exceeds three thousand signatures.