Sunday, October 12, 2025

Soccer player found guilty of homicide in deaths of newlyweds

Professional soccer player Joao Maleck has been found guilty of two counts of aggravated homicide resulting from a traffic accident in 2019. 

The son of Jean-Claude Maleck, a French-Cameroonian soccer player who came to Mexico in 1998 to play for the Tecos soccer club, Joao Maleck plowed his Ford Mustang into a car at 9 a.m. on June 23 in Zapopan, Jalisco, killing a newlywed couple who had married the night before. 

Maleck, who was playing for the Seville Athletic Club at the time and vacationing in his hometown of Guadalajara, had posted numerous photos to social media the night before from a nightclub where he had been partying until very late.

Maleck, 20 at the time, was found to have been speeding and had alcohol in his system at the time of the accident. 

The soccer star, who has been jailed in Guadalajara since June 24, 2019, was found guilty Friday after a three-day trial. His sentencing will take place on October 30, and he could face a 10-year sentence minus time served, although his lawyers are hoping for four years of probation. 

Maleck will also have to pay a fine for damages to the couple’s relatives that is expected to be between 800,000 and 1 million pesos, or US $38,300 to $47,900.

Source: El Universal (sp), Milenio (sp)

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
A giant 2026 World Cup ball was installed at the Terminal 2 entrance of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) this week.

Mexico’s week in review: CIBanco collapse and Banamex bid shake financial sector

0
Other headlines included several positive developments in the Sheinbaum administration's fight against violent crime and tax evasion.
News quiz

The MND News Quiz of the Week: October 11th

1
Lemon Pie, licensed tequila and lost beaches: Have you been paying attention to the news this week?
trash

Mexico City’s new waste management strategy will require trash separation starting Jan. 1

2
The plan seeks to get 50% of the city's waste either recycled or reused, an ambitious goal given that only 15% of the capital's 6,400 tonnes of daily trash is separated correctly.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity