Court upholds nocturnal house arrest for skater who attacked a university student

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SANTIAGO.- The Third Santiago Court of Appeals has decided to uphold the decree issued for 17 year-old Ricardo A.C.C., charged with attempted first degree murder last week after bludgeoning 25 year-old university student Colin Fetter in the head with a skateboard.

In light of the ruling, the minor will continue under nocturnal house arrest, meaning that he must remain in his home between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM throughout the 120 days of the investigation into the case.

The court issued the ruling following a request made by the Public Ministry to place the defendant in temporary custody, arguing that the serious nature of the offense and its consequences called for a more severe decree.

Charges are also being brought against the teenager by the Municipality of Providencia, which requested that the young man be taken into custody due to the fact that he poses a threat to society.

The court, however, did not agree. Ministers Alejandro Madrid and Jorge Zepeda resolved the issue today by opting to uphold the ruling of nocturnal house arrest that had been made by the Eighth Court of Legal Proceedings. Prosecuting attorney Victoria Valencia was in favor of putting the minor into temporary custody.