Medina Velázquez was 27. He was the chairman of the radio station's board of directors and also taught Guaraní at an elementary school some 12 miles from Capilbary. He led an active life and often broadcast allegations of corruption - until he was silenced by Maylin, who was convicted of premeditated homicide on October 16, 2001, nine months and 11 days later, by the Alto Paraná and Canindeyú District Court and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment.

Shortly afterwards, however, Medina Velázquez' family began receiving death threats and one of his brothers was abducted and held for a couple of hours in strange circumstances. Earlier, the investigating magistrate in Curuguaty had ordered the release of Maylin's alleged cohorts - his cousin Daniel Encisco Marilin (believed to be the owner of the gun used to shoot Medina Velázquez), teacher Timoteo Cáceres and the son of a political leader, Luis Alberto Franco - after District Attorney Ramón Trinidad Zelaya Bogado failed to produce evidence against them while they were being held in custody in the Coronel Oviedo jail.

Family's cross to bear

The question that remains is the motive for the murder. Was it professional, because of his broadcast allegations regarding unlawful timber and drug trafficking, some of which were echoed in stories published by ABC Color by his brother Pablo? Was it political, to do with the alleged links of leaders of ruling Colorado Party with illicit activities of the Forestry Reserve, an agency of the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry? Or was it personal, the result of the jealousies of a teacher colleague?

Miguel Angel Rojas and Joaquín Díaz, Maylin's defense lawyers, appealed his sentence in December, asking that it be reduced to five years in prison. Prosecutor Raquel Talavera strongly opposed the appeal. The 25-year prison sentence was upheld and ratified on March 27.

Meanwhile the whereabouts remain unknown of Claudio Bareiro López, Mirta Miranda, Pablo Quiñones and brothers Alfredo and Gilberto Salinas, all of whom were connected in one way or another with Maylin.

"The victim's relatives are continuing to press for the case to be reopened on the basis of new evidence against those suspected of having carried out this horrendous crime," said Palbo Medina Velázquez.

Their action is based on the crime itself and subsequent ramifications, especially the fears aroused by the threats against the family. This is the cross being borne by the large family that now faces a lack of personal safety and protection, as if they were the ones to blame rather than the victims, while Maylin, the scapegoat, spends more than half his life in prison and the crucial question remains: Why?