BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The trial of four former high-ranking officers of the Argentine navy began Tuesday for their alleged responsibility in the sinking of the ARA San Juan submarine in 2017 that resulted in the deaths of its 44 crew members.
A court in the southern province of Santa Cruz is presiding over a trial where the defendants face charges of dereliction of duty, breach of official obligations and aggravated negligent destruction — all of which carry prison sentences. All the defendants maintain their innocence.
Although the military officers face trial, no high-level political figures — including the president at the time or a Cabinet member — have been prosecuted for the November 2017 disaster.
On Nov. 15 of that year, the German-built submarine disappeared in the South Atlantic with 44 crew members on board. It was traveling from Ushuaia, in Argentina’s far south, to its base in Mar del Plata — 400 kilometers (248 miles) south of Buenos Aires — following a training exercise. Earlier that day, the vessel reported a malfunction caused by water entering the batteries through the snorkel, though it later stated the issue had been resolved. Hours later, an explosion was detected in the area where contact was lost.
The judicial investigation concluded that the submarine suffered from operational deficiencies prior to its Oct. 25, 2017, departure from Mar del Plata.
Prosecutors told the court Tuesday that since its 2015 mid-life overhaul, the submarine had “numerous technical defects” which were “documented by the various captains who served over the years.”
According to the court’s reconstruction, water entered through ventilation ducts and reached a battery tank, triggering a short circuit and a small fire. This caused the submarine to lose control and descend rapidly, leading to an implosion as the hull could not withstand the immense pressure at depths exceeding 600 meters.
Relatives of the deceased crew members, represented by attorney Luis Tagliapietra, father of one of the crew members who perished, argue that the current trial falls short of achieving true justice.
In a recent statement, the group criticized Judge Marta Isabel Yañez for failing to conduct essential expert analyses or investigate political leadership. They specifically pointed toward the administration of then President Mauricio Macri.
Tagliapietra later told The Associated Press that the trial is a farce intended to offer the four navy officers as scapegoats, although he sees a conviction as unlikely.
“They clearly bear responsibility,” he noted, “but given the flaws in this investigation, acquittal is likely either here or in a higher court.”
In a separate ruling in October, Argentina’s Supreme Court dismissed claims of illegal espionage against the families of the 44 crew members. The decision ended all legal proceedings against Macri, who served as head of state when the submarine imploded.
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FILE - Workers stand around the ARA San Juan submarine during a ceremony celebrating the first stage of major repairs at the Argentine Industrial Naval Complex (CINAR) in Buenos Aires, Sept. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Mario de Fina, File)
Two of the top Stanley Cup contenders in the Western Conference are not waiting until trade deadline day to make significant additions down the middle.
The NHL-best Colorado Avalanche acquired center Nicolas Roy from Toronto on Thursday for a conditional fifth-round pick this year and a conditional first-rounder in 2027. The Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights got center Nic Dowd from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick, a 2029 second-rounder and young goaltender Jesper Vikman.
Roy fills a major void for Colorado with significant size at 6-foot-4. Now 29, he helped Vegas win the Cup in 2023, when depth played a major role in that title run.
The condition on the 2027 first-rounder is that if it's in the top 10, Colorado will send its unprotected first in 2028 instead. The fifth will be the lowest of the three Colorado currently has this year.
There had been some speculation about the Avalanche reacquiring Nazem Kadri, who was part of their championship team in 2022, but the three years remaining on his contract with Calgary and pricey $7 million salary cap hit made that a tougher puzzle piece to fit in.
Roy should slide in perfectly as the No. 3 center behind leading scorer (at 100 points in 59 games) Nathan MacKinnon and 30-goal scorer Brock Nelson. The position was seen as the biggest need for a group that has been atop the standings since October.
Colorado previously added on the blue line with Brett Kulak and Nick Blankenburg.
Vegas jumped the line in January, before the Olympic break, to pick up defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Flames. Now general manager Kelly McCrimmon bolstered the roster up front.
Dowd, 35, gives the Golden Knights a penalty killer and shutdown defender down the middle who can also chip in some offense. He has 16 points and 43 blocked shots in 55 games this season.
An Alabama native, Dowd is under contract through '26-27 at a reasonable salary cap hit of $3 million.
The Golden Knights could still target a goaltender. While the Avalanche have the best team save percentage in the league at .916, Vegas is second-worst at .880 between Adin Hill, Carter Hart, Akira Schmid and Carl Lindbom.
Trading Dowd signals the Capitals' intention to at least in part be sellers, sitting four points back of the second and final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference but having played three more games than Boston, which is in that position. Pending unrestricted free agent forward Brandon Duhaime and defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk are also trade candidates for Washington.
With roughly 26 hours to go before the deadline, plenty of other teams who declared they're open for business are awaiting more deals. Vincent Trocheck remains with the New York Rangers, and coach Mike Sullivan was noncommittal about whether the center whose name is atop many trade boards would play Thursday night against Toronto.
Roy played Wednesday night at New Jersey for the Maple Leafs, who are all but certain to miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade. They sat three other players for roster management reasons as trade talk heats up: Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, all of whom could have new homes by 3 p.m. EST Friday.
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Washington Capitals center Nic Dowd (26) tries to get the puck past Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Akira Schmid (40) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals' Nic Dowd (26) tries to face wash Montreal Canadiens' Kirby Dach (77) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
