The Argentine courts delivered their verdict on Friday September 27 in the trial “ Bridge 12 “. Five former police officers and soldiers were on trial for illegal deprivation of liberty, torture and murder out of a total of 185 victims passed through the clandestine detention center. Bridge 12 » during the civil-military dictatorship. Two defendants were convicted and three were acquitted.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Buenos Aires, Théo Conscience
“ Wherever you go, we’ll pick you up “, sing the relatives of the victims who passed through the clandestine detention center “ Bridge 12 » when the three judges arrive in the courtroom and begin reading the verdict at the Comodoro Py court in the Argentine capital, Friday, September 27.
Four police officers and a soldier were accused of “ unlawful deprivation of liberty “, of ” torture » and “ double aggravated murder » on 185 victims passed through this clandestine detention center between 1974 and 1977 in Argentina.
Only two convictions
The court sentences ex-policeman Nestor Ciaramella to life imprisonment and retired soldier Enrique Miguel Del Pino to 25 years in prison. This to the applause of the relatives of the disappeared, who, however, faded away with the rest of the verdict.
Failing to be able to establish with certainty their involvement, the three judges acquitted the three other accused of all charges. Leaving the court, the lawyer for victims’ relatives Pablo Llonto expressed his incomprehension. “ What dominates is anger. These acquittals are inexplicable, because the courts had already established that this building was a clandestine detention center, that there were no other activities. If these police officers worked there, what were they doing there? ? », he asks.
The plaintiffs will be able to appeal once the court sets out the reasons for its decision on November 26.
Also readArgentina: a presidential decree repealed for the first time by Parliament