50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case release date, where to watch, and other latest updates so far

50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case arrives on Netflix on November 13, bringing a close look at the 2020 killing of Argentine law student Fernando Báez Sosa and the legal fallout that followed. The series centers on a brief window of time outside a nightclub and the wider impact of those events on families, courts, and a country watching on social media.

50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case is a three-episode Spanish docuseries, each running about 45 to 50 minutes. Directed by Martín Rocca, the film features exclusive interviews and archive footage, produced by Fabula. The show includes voices from Báez Sosa’s circle, selected members of the convicted group and their families, journalists, and legal figures.

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Background: 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case

Fernando José Báez Sosa was an 18-year-old from Buenos Aires, the only child of Paraguayan immigrants. He had started law school and was on a short summer trip to Villa Gesell with friends in mid-January 2020. Local media later labeled the accused group “rugbiers,” since most played amateur rugby at the same club. Public interest grew quickly as videos and chats surfaced across social platforms.

The case also fed a wider conversation about racial bias and social status in Argentina. Some witnesses reportedly heard racist slurs during the attack. The broader issue has been discussed by activists and scholars who see the case as part of a larger pattern, as covered by the Guardian. According to the Guardian, the trial and reaction reopened long-standing questions about racism in daily life and in public institutions.

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Murder: 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case

On January 18, 2020, a dispute inside Le Brique nightclub led security to remove several partygoers. Outside, at about 4:44 am, a group surrounded Báez Sosa on the sidewalk. Phone and security videos show punches and kicks. Friends nearby tried to help but were held back, reportedly by others in the group. Báez Sosa collapsed and later died from his injuries.

Witness accounts and video reportedly showed friends held back while Fernando was punched and kicked in under a minute (Image via Unsplash)

Reports describe the assault as brief and sudden. Some members of the group allegedly filmed the beating and then left the area. Al Jazeera reported that witnesses described slurs during the attack and that medical testimony pointed to multiple head injuries as the cause of death. According to Al Jazeera, eight defendants were later identified and detained after the incident.

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Criminal procedure and trial: 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case

Prosecutors charged eight men and alleged premeditation based on group actions before and during the beating. The public trial commenced in January 2023 and garnered extensive daily coverage.

On February 6, 2023, the court issued convictions for all eight. Five were found guilty of doubly aggravated homicide and received life sentences. Three were deemed secondary participants and received 15-year terms. Al Jazeera reported these sentences and the prosecution’s theory of coordinated roles.

A later development affirmed those outcomes. The Buenos Aires Times reported that a provincial appeals court confirmed the life and 15-year sentences, ruling that “malice aforethought” would no longer be an aggravating factor in the legal label, a change that did not alter the prison terms. According to Buenos Aires Times, further appeals remained possible under Argentine procedure.

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Where to watch and release details: 50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case

50 Seconds: The Fernando Baez Sosa Case streams on Netflix beginning November 13. The series is in Spanish. Subtitles and dubs may vary by region. Content includes violent material from case footage, so viewer discretion is advised.

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