Argentina: Man sentenced to life for brutal transgender murder Published duration 18 June 2018

image copyright EPA image caption Ms Sacayán had campaigned for LGBT rights in Argentina

A court in Argentina has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of high-profile transgender activist Diana Sacayán.

She was stabbed 13 times in her Buenos Aires flat in October 2015.

Gabriel David Marino, 25, has become the first person in Argentina to be sentenced under new legislation on crimes against transgender people.

Human rights groups say Latin America accounts for the greatest number of transgender murders worldwide.

Mr Marino said he had sexual encounters with the victim in exchange for illegal drugs. But he denied killing her.

'Light that guides me'

Ms Sacayán was a well-known activist for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.

image copyright AFP image caption It is unclear whether Gabriel David Marino will appeal against the sentence

She was the first Argentine citizen to receive a new national identity card after applying to have her gender changed.

Argentina's president at the time, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, handed her the card personally.

Ms Sacayán was 40 when she was killed.

The trial at the Supreme Court building was followed by dozens of friends, relatives and fellow campaigners.