50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case - A complete timeline of the 2020 murder , revisited

The Netflix docuseries 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case tells the tragic story of the killing of a young man and the consequences of one of the most shocking murders in the world. It retells the story of 18-year-old law student Fernando Baez Sosa, who was violently beaten to death outside a nightclub in the coastal town of Villa Gesell on January 18, 2020. It all happens in 50 seconds. The beatings lasted less than a minute, yet one could feel the impact of that crime throughout the country.

The case has become a national flashpoint associated with violence, class, and racism since the time of the murder. 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case does not indicate black and white framing of the case; the documentary shows mere seconds that changed many people's lives and the avenues of justice that were being pursued in the courts.

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The timeline of what happened on that night, which was shown on 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case?

On January 18, 2020, Fernando Baez Sosa was out in Villa Gesell with his friends, enjoying a summer holiday before university. That night, they went to Le Brique nightclub. Tensions inside the club grew, and a group of young rugby players from Zarate got into a verbal fight with Fernando's friends. Security eventually removed both groups from the club.

After being thrown out, Fernando Baez Sosa and his friends waited outside. Around 4:44 AM, a group of eight young men, most of whom played rugby, surrounded Fernando. Witnesses said they punched and kicked him so brutally that he lost consciousness. Some bystanders tried to help, but the attackers kept going. Racist insults, including a slur referring to Fernando's skin, were reportedly used during the assault. Parts of the beating were recorded by bystanders and on mobile phones and later used as evidence in court.

Fernando was taken to the hospital; however, he did not survive, as the force related to his injuries was too severe. Medical reports found that he suffered from a specific type of internal shock from strong blunt force trauma to various parts of his body that was enough to cause fatal damage.

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The legal aftermath & verdicts

Following the assault, the eight rugby players were arrested, as per the series 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case. Police seized mobile phones and articles of clothing bloodied in the attack and had video from security cameras and cell phones. The prosecutor asserted the assault was planned over time and was carried out with some degree of cowardice, referring to it as "doubly aggravated homicide" in legal language.

The trial commenced on January 2, 2023, at the Oral Criminal Court No. 1 in Dolores. Over a period of weeks, approximately 130 witnesses were called, some of whom were friends of Fernando, others observed the events unfold that night, and additional experts. On February 6, 2023, the three judges announced their decision.

Five of the men, Maximo Thomsen, Ciro Pertossi, Luciano Pertossi, Matias Benicelli, and Enzo Comelli, were found guilty of being "co-perpetrators" and sentenced to life imprisonment. The other three, Ayrton Viollaz, Blas Cinalli, and Lucas Pertossi, were found to have a "secondary role" and got 15 years in prison.

One dramatic moment in court was when Maximo Thomsen fainted as the verdict was read. Fernando's parents, Graciela Sosa and Silvino Baez, reacted strongly. His mother said,

"Fernando was a human being … how can someone discriminate like this?"

Their attorney Fernando Burlando remarked that they were not entirely satisfied. They wanted life sentences for all eight.

In 2024, a court of appeals in Buenos Aires upheld the sentences. The judges eliminated one legally aggravating circumstance termed "malice aforethought" from the original decision, but the judges did not change the prison terms due to the serious, violent nature of the crime.

The Argentine Supreme Court subsequently dismissed a motion from the defendants that their pretrial confinement was illegal. Thus, at this point, their convictions appear to be quite secure.

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What 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case adds to the story

The series 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case is more than just a retelling. It employs archive footage court records cellphone videos and interviews to demonstrate how the crime occurred and how justice was served. It centers on voices like Fernando's mother Graciela and their lawyer Burlando.

50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case also shows how public reaction grew. After the murder, marches and vigils took place across Argentina, and people demanded justice and change. The killing forced the country to face issues around class, violence, and how young people can be part of or start dangerous acts.

The title, "50 Seconds," is no accident. The beating lasted around fifty seconds, but its effects have lasted for years. Through that short window, many lives were changed. The series 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case asks: how does one tragic moment carry so much weight?

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Why does this case still resonate?

This crime struck Argentina deeply. It was not just about a fight or a tragic accident. The attack was violent, and the way it spread through video made it very public. People saw the cruelty. The incident's connections to young men playing a socially valued sport, rugby, sparked serious questions around class, privilege, and aggression.

There were a number of different forms of evidence in the court: firstly, witness accounts, phone data and messages, and cameras. This legal process took time, and the process was emotional, but the convictions reflected real consequences.

Now, years later, 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case asks its audience not to forget. It asks viewers to reflect on violence, about justice, and about how a single moment can change a life forever.

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