Argentine judge stops woman wedding twin sister's killer
AFP December 23, 20121:35AM
Edith Casas is guilty of a 'terrible betrayal', according to her mother Source: Supplied
AN ARGENTINE judge has blocked planned nuptials between a 22-year-old woman and her twin sister's convicted killer after a formal complaint by her mother.
Edith Casas insists Victor Cingolani did not murder her sister Johana Casas, a fashion model. He is serving a 13-year prison sentence in southern Santa Cruz province for her murder in 2010.
The twins' mother, Marcelina Orellana, says Edith is mentally ill and "does not know what she is doing". She has filed a request in court to suspend the marriage.
Ms Casas "does not have full use of her faculties, is deprived of reason and her physical and mental well-being are at risk," said the mother's lawyer, Fabian Farias, on Friday.
The Argentine Civil Code says any permanent or temporary loss of mental capacities is reason enough to prevent a marriage.
Johana Casas was shot dead days before her 20th birthday in 2010.
Mr Farias said Ms Casas made the surprise decision to marry the convicted killer just 10 days ago.
The couple had planned to marry in jail to avoid a media circus.
"She used to live with her parents and nobody expected such a sudden change in behaviour," he said.
But Ms Casas insists Cingolani was unjustly convicted, saying he "is a guy who would not hurt a fly. He did not kill her."
Victor Cingolani, right, was convicted of killing Johana Casas, left, in 2010. Johana's twin sister Edith is planning to marry the killer.
