psicólogopsychologist
El psicólogo fue convocado para colaborar con la investigación.
Culture ·
El psicólogo que estranguló al “descuartizador de Lima” en un interrogatorio y luego quiso ser candidato a presidente
The psychologist who strangled the so-called Lima dismemberer during an interrogation and later sought to become a presidential candidate
C115 minArticle reviewed
Before you open the article
This preparation gives you the story context, essential vocabulary, useful expressions and reading questions. Study it first, then open the original news article, which is written in Spanish.
Start preparing with vocabulary ↓What this article is about
Infobae reconstructs the extraordinary story of Mario Poggi, a psychologist and criminologist brought into a 1986 Lima police investigation to profile and question Ángel Díaz Balbín. Poggi killed the handcuffed suspect during an interrogation, was sentenced to prison, and years later became a highly visible and eccentric public figure.
Background you need
The article also examines the pressure surrounding the unsolved killings that the press associated with the label 'descuartizador de Lima'. Importantly, Díaz Balbín died without confessing to those killings, and the report states that dismembered bodies continued to appear after his death, making the distinction between suspicion, media labeling and proven responsibility essential.
Key vocabulary
Essential vocabulary
criminólogocriminologist
Poggi se presentaba también como criminólogo.
perfil psicológicopsychological profile
La policía quería que elaborara un perfil psicológico del sospechoso.
confesiónconfession
Los investigadores buscaban obtener una confesión.
sospechososuspect
El sospechoso no reconocía la autoría de los crímenes.
interrogatoriointerrogation / questioning
El homicidio ocurrió durante un interrogatorio.
prisión preventivapretrial detention
El plazo de prisión preventiva estaba por terminar.
expedientecase file
Las autoridades querían cerrar el expediente.
Corte Suprema de JusticiaSupreme Court of Justice
La Corte Suprema de Justicia lo condenó a prisión.
autoproclamóproclaimed himself
Años después se autoproclamó candidato a presidente.
Quick practice
Vocabulary flashcards
Useful expressions
Expressions
trazar un perfil psicológico— to draw up a psychological profile
Fue contratado para trazar un perfil psicológico del sospechoso.
obtener una confesión— to obtain a confession
Los investigadores querían obtener una confesión antes de que venciera el plazo.
cumplir una condena— to serve a sentence
Después de cumplir su condena, Poggi regresó a la vida pública.
Language focus
Language focus
Legal reporting uses “presunto” to avoid treating an allegation as proven.
El artículo se refiere al presunto autor de los asesinatos.
The imperfect sets the ongoing background, while the preterite marks completed actions.
La ciudad vivía atemorizada cuando la policía detuvo al sospechoso.
Quotation marks can signal that a dramatic label comes from press usage rather than a judicial finding.
La prensa lo llamó el “descuartizador de Lima”.
Before you read
Questions to keep in mind
- Why was Mario Poggi brought into the police investigation?
- What is the difference between a suspect and a convicted offender?
- Why is the press label “descuartizador de Lima” important to read critically?
Continue with the original
Now read the news in Spanish
You have prepared the main context and language. The button opens the publisher’s original Spanish-language article in a new tab.
Open the original article in Spanish →After reading
Reflect on what you read
- What methods did Poggi use during his questioning of Díaz Balbín?
- What happened to Poggi after the killing in the interrogation room?
- Which details in the article complicate the assumption that Díaz Balbín had been proven responsible for the serial killings?
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