A former Love is Blind: Argentina participant has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after attempting to kill his ex-wife.
In 2024 Santiago Martínez became engaged to Emily Ceco sight unseen after meeting on the reality dating series.
They then tied the knot in a civil ceremony and had been planning to remarry in a ceremony when Ceco ended their relationship in February last year.
She had alleged that Martínez had physically abused her and given her a black eye.
He later went on to be charged with attempted murder, repeated assault, and unlawful detention, as reported by People.
Following his sentencing, Ceco was interviewed on the Argentine public broadcast station Televisión Pública, in which she recalled Martínez choking her and smothering her with a pillow to prevent her from breathing.
She told the hosts he refused to let her leave, so she ran away and filed a complaint.
Speaking during the broadcast, Ceco said multiple times that he ‘tried to kill me’.
After hearing that he had been sentenced to 15 years behind bars, Ceco explained how she’d ‘instantly burst into tears’.
‘My body was shaking. I felt like I had taken a backpack off my shoulders and that I was going to have peace after a long time. I was going to be able to sleep and continue with my life…and be able to enjoy life like I fought for,’ she shared.
During his trial, Martínez had shared posts on social media in which he denied he’d tried to kill his ex-wife.
‘The first thing I want to say is that I do not justify violence in any way, and I was the first to acknowledge my mistake and to apologise privately, and today I take responsibility for what I did,’ he said in a since-deleted post.
‘But that does not mean I take responsibility for trying to kill the woman I loved.’
After the sentencing was announced, Ceco shared a statement on Instagram as well, in which she said she was ‘still trying to understand everything’.
‘It’s not just a closure…is to remove a story that marked me deeply. There were days of so much fear, of feeling lost, of not knowing how to go on. And there was also something in me that, even in the darkest moments, chose not to give up.
‘But I wasn’t alone. And that’s what I feel the strongest today. Thank you to my family, for holding me even when I couldn’t hold myself. Thank you to every person who wrote to me, who hugged me with words, who didn’t let go of me. Thanks to those who, without knowing me, chose to accompany me anyway. And especially, thank you to my attorneys, for walking through this process with me, for delivering, for patience, and for never giving up on me.’
She continued: ‘This doesn’t erase the experience. But today I feel like a part of my story was heard. I… still healing, more aware, stronger, and deeply grateful. Today my life begins anew.’
Who to call if you need help
For emotional support you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline, run by Refuge and Women’s Aid, on 0808 2000 247.
If you are in an LGBT relationship you can also call the helpline run by Broken Rainbow and Galop UK, on 0800 9995428.
Male victims can call also the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.