Concepción's Court of Appeals has upheld precautionary measures against three crewmembers of the fishing vessel Cobra, charged with culpable homicide in the 2025 collision that killed seven Bruma fishermen. Following their formalization earlier this month, the court rejected requests to alter the restrictions, while Blumar S.A. faces no measures.
On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Concepción's Court of Appeals confirmed the precautionary measures—national arraigo, biweekly check-ins, and a ban on communication among defendants—for Captain Roberto Mansilla, officer Luis Macaya, and watchman Jaime Sandoval of the industrial trawler Cobra. They face seven counts of culpable homicide due to regulatory infractions in the March 30, 2025, collision northeast of Santa María Island that sank the anchored artisanal boat Bruma, killing seven fishermen.
The court dismissed both defense requests to lift the measures and prosecution efforts to modify them, deeming them sufficient to ensure the crew's participation in proceedings. For Blumar S.A., the vessel's owner, prosecutors' request for an intervener was rejected. Defense attorney Alejandro Espinoza commented: “This resolution confirms the guarantee judge's prior ruling rejecting measures against the company, as the steps taken by Blumar are appropriate.”
This follows the March 18 formalization in Coronel Guarantee Court, where prosecutors detailed evidence including GPS data, video, and witness statements showing negligence.
