November 9, 2001
Case: María José Bravo
Correspondent of newspaper La Prensa and Hoy, Juigalpa, Chontales.
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As he was reporting on and conversing with members of the two political parties contesting the results of municipal elections a man approached him and shot him. Right away a former local mayor who previously had criticized the journalist was arrested.
On January 26, 2005 Eugenio Hernández González, a former mayor, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Sentences reversed and acquittals: (+)
Eugenio Hernández González
Released / Sentence commuted: (+)
Jailed awaiting trial: (+)
Suspects not charged: (+)
In March 2008 the Supreme Court Criminal Bench discussed the prisioner’s appeal. The debate gave rise to a strong when the newspaper La Prensa reported that for political reasons a ruling was being hatched that would be to the benefit of the accused. Presumably there was an intention to reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter, which would carry a lighter sentence and lead to his early release The court’s presiding judge, Armengol Cuadra, confirmed the report and suspended the sentence.
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