This Tuesday, July 7, the High Risk Court B began the trial against seven former agents of the National Civil Police (PNC), accused of participating in the alleged extrajudicial execution of the Canadian citizen Milton Nelson Santamaría and the Guatemalan Eldin Leonel Choc Xi, which occurred in April 2024 in San Andrés Itzapa, Chimaltenango.
The hearing began with the accusation of the facts formulated by the Human Rights Prosecutor’s Office of the Public Ministry (MP), which maintains that the former agents participated in different actions related to the death of both victims.
At the end of the first day, the Court suspended the debate, which will continue on July 16.
During the hearing, former sub-inspector Edy Leonel Vásquez Rabanales testified, who rejected the allegations made by the MP. Vásquez Rabanales was the head of the San Andrés Itzapa police substation and is identified as one of the main perpetrators of the crimes.
The accused blamed the two agents who captured Nelson Santamaría and Eldin Leonel Choc Xi and stated that the case arose from incorrect police procedure.
At the end of his statement, Vásquez Rabanales assured that he does not know what subsequently happened to the victims and reiterated that he had no participation in the events that cost them their lives.
Accused
For the crime of extrajudicial execution, the following are prosecuted:
- Edy Leonel Vásquez Rabanales, former PNC sub-inspector.
- Yorleni Lisbeth Macario Ramos.
- Yulisa Nabely Ayala Yol.
- Mauricio Abraham Contreras Salán.
- Fredy Santiago Velásquez Pérez.
Jeremías Jacobo Rojas faces proceedings for abuse of authority, breach of duties and denial of assistance.
Ángel Vásquez Sajbochol is tried for breach of duties, obstruction of criminal action, failure to report and failure to provide assistance.
Background of the case
According to the investigation by the Public Ministry, the events occurred in April 2024 in San Andrés Itzapa, Chimaltenango.
The Human Rights Prosecutor’s Office maintains that Edy Leonel Vásquez Rabanales would have participated in the extrajudicial execution of the Canadian Milton Nelson Santamaría and the Guatemalan Eldin Leonel Choc Xi.
During the first statement hearing, held on August 13, 2024, prosecutors indicated that both victims were subjected to torture before dying.
According to the accusation, one of the motivations would have been an act of homophobia.
As part of the evidence presented, the MP played four recordings obtained by a witness who remained near the place where the attacks allegedly occurred.
In one of the audios, one of the victims is heard asking for help.
“Help, help, please,” Eldin Leonel Choc Xi is heard saying.
After that hearing, the judge decided to link Vásquez Rabanales to criminal proceedings for extrajudicial execution, imposed preventive detention on him and gave the Public Ministry three months to present the conclusive act.
The former sub-inspector was deported to Guatemala on August 5, 2024 by United States authorities, after having been captured on June 11 of that year in Arizona.
US authorities detained him after establishing that he had entered that country irregularly after leaving Guatemala, where he was wanted for his alleged participation in the deaths of both victims.
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