Homicidio en Ecuador: análisis jurídico y estructural

Homicide is one of the most pressing legal and social issues in contemporary Ecuador. Its steady rise since 2020 reveals structural challenges within the penal system, which has shown limited capacity for prevention and punishment. This article critically examines homicide in Ecuador through a legal, social, and institutional lens, using the 2013 murder of Karina del Pozo prosecuted under the former Criminal Code as a case study. The investigation integrates criminal law theory, official statistics, and institutional critique to identify flaws in the Ecuadorian justice system and propose more effective criminal policy alternatives.