Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GUATEMALA702
2008-06-03 20:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:
SUSPECT FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER OF SON OF PROMINENT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHGT #0702 1552010 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 032010Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5473
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000702
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS KCRM PHUM KDEM PGOV GT
SUBJECT: SUSPECT FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER OF SON OF PROMINENT
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000702
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS KCRM PHUM KDEM PGOV GT
SUBJECT: SUSPECT FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER OF SON OF PROMINENT
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
1. On June 2, a Guatemalan court sentenced Erwin Omar Gudiel
Arias to 20 years in prison for the August 2007 murder of
Jose Mendez Dardon, son of prominent human rights activist
and former Congressman Amilcar Mendez. The three-judge panel
found conclusive the testimony of two witnesses who were at
the scene of the crime and a ballistics report that
established that the bullets that killed Mendez were fired at
close range. Gudiel, a colleague and friend of Mendez, was
in the vehicle Mendez was driving at the time of the
shooting.
2. The three-judge panel called several witnesses, including
the defendant and the victim's widow and father, during the
two-week trial which began May 14. In his testimony, Gudiel,
the sole suspect in the case, maintained his innocence
despite conflicting testimony of other witnesses. In press
interviews, he claimed that he was framed. No other suspects
have been apprehended.
3. Amilcar Mendez expressed his satisfaction with the court's
decision. He said it was an important step toward achieving
justice and expressed his gratitude to the Embassy for its
support over the past year.
4. Comment: This case is significant in that it represents
one of the less than 2 percent of cases successfully
prosecuted through the Guatemalan criminal court system.
Amilcar Mendez' prominence as a former member of Congress and
human rights activist, his perseverance, and international
attention and support, including FBI assistance, were
instrumental in achieving resolution of this case.
Derham
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS KCRM PHUM KDEM PGOV GT
SUBJECT: SUSPECT FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER OF SON OF PROMINENT
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
1. On June 2, a Guatemalan court sentenced Erwin Omar Gudiel
Arias to 20 years in prison for the August 2007 murder of
Jose Mendez Dardon, son of prominent human rights activist
and former Congressman Amilcar Mendez. The three-judge panel
found conclusive the testimony of two witnesses who were at
the scene of the crime and a ballistics report that
established that the bullets that killed Mendez were fired at
close range. Gudiel, a colleague and friend of Mendez, was
in the vehicle Mendez was driving at the time of the
shooting.
2. The three-judge panel called several witnesses, including
the defendant and the victim's widow and father, during the
two-week trial which began May 14. In his testimony, Gudiel,
the sole suspect in the case, maintained his innocence
despite conflicting testimony of other witnesses. In press
interviews, he claimed that he was framed. No other suspects
have been apprehended.
3. Amilcar Mendez expressed his satisfaction with the court's
decision. He said it was an important step toward achieving
justice and expressed his gratitude to the Embassy for its
support over the past year.
4. Comment: This case is significant in that it represents
one of the less than 2 percent of cases successfully
prosecuted through the Guatemalan criminal court system.
Amilcar Mendez' prominence as a former member of Congress and
human rights activist, his perseverance, and international
attention and support, including FBI assistance, were
instrumental in achieving resolution of this case.
Derham