55
according to the statements rendered by several witnesses before the Attorney General’s
Office,156 and this proceeding,157 several reporters would have been subjected to attacks. In
the first statement, rendered in April 2002, Mr. Antonetti Moreno mentioned that “his
cameraman was attacked by the Personnel Director of the Social Security Institute and
another three individuals” and that he as well as his assistant, were forced to intervene and
he also mentioned that “Ericsson Alvis was injured and the camera damaged”. Even though
Mr. Antonetti Moreno mentioned that he was “beaten”, he did not describe in detail who
would have beat him or the kind of blow he would have received.158 In a subsequent
statement rendered before a judge, as well as in a statement furnished by the
representatives,159 Mr. Antonetti mentioned that “he was wounded in the forehead” in a
second attack organized by supporters of the national Government, who belong to the
"Bolivarian Circles”.160
194. On April 3, 2002, the 2º and 74º Public Prosecutor Offices of Caracas Metropolitan
Area ordered to conduct the corresponding investigations161, though a complaint was lodged
11 months after the incidents. In the complaint lodged with the Public Prosecutor Offices,
there is only one reference made to the fact that in his incident, the alleged victims would
have been "pushed, insulted and physically and mentally abused” by individuals belonging
to the so-called “Bolivarian circles”162. The Venezuelan authorities considered, as from the
first statements offered by the witnesses, that the physical attacks would have been
committed against Mr. Ericsson José Alvis Piñero and not against Mr. Antonetti163. The
Court notes that several steps were taken to such end164 and that a legal-medical
156
Cf. Transcript of Interview with Maria Elisa González Mijares of April 4, 2002 before the 2º and 74º Public
Prosecutors Office of Caracas Metropolitan Area (records of evidence, volume XXXII, page 8273-8274); transcript
of interview with Antonio Campos Giovanni of April 4, 2002 before the 2º and 74º Public Prosecutors Office of
Caracas Metropolitan Area (records of evidence, volume XXXII, pages 8286-8287) and transcript of interview with
Héctor Ojeda Montilla of April 4, 2002 before the 2º and 74º Public Prosecutors of Caracas Metropolitan Area
(records of evidence, volume XXXII, pages 8288-8289).
157
Cf. statement of Edgar Hernández (records of evidence, volume X, appendix 50 to the brief of pleadings,
motions and evidence, page 3055) and request for justification of June 17, 2003 before the 20º Municipal Court of
the Judicial District of Caracas Metropolitan Area that contains the statement of Edgar Hernández (Records of
evidence, volume IV, p. 906)
158
Cf. transcript of interview with José Vicente Antonetti Moreno of April 3, 2002 before the 2º and 74º Public
Prosecutor Office of Caracas Metropolitan Area (records of evidence, volume XXXII, pages 8267-8268).
159
Cf. statement rendered by José Vicente Antonetti Moreno (records of evidence, volume X, appendix 50 to
the brief of pleadings, motions and arguments, page 3044).
160
Cf. Request for justification of June 17, 2003 before the 20º Municipal Court of Caracas Metropolitan Area,
containing the declarations of José Vicente Antonetti Moreno and Edgar Hernández (records of evidence, volume
IV, pages 905-906).
161
Cf. Order issued by the 2º and 74º Public Prosecutors of Caracas Metropolitan Area on April 3, 2002
(records of evidence, volume XXXII, page 8263)
162
Cf. Complaint lodged with the 2º Prosecutor’s Office of the Attorney General’s Office of the Judicial District
of Caracas Metropolitan Area on March 10, 2003 (records of evidence, volume IV, appendix 8 to the application,
pages 965-975).
163
Cf. Request for discontinuance and dismissal of the 50º Plenipotentiary Assistant Prosecutor of the
Attorney General’s Office of February 6, 2006 (records of evidence, volume XXXII, pages 8315-8336).
164
Interviews conducted in the capacity as witnesses before the 2º and 74º Public Prosecutor Offices of
Caracas Metropolitan Area with Ericsson José Alvis Piñero, on April 3, 2002 Cf. Transcript of interview (records of
evidence, volume XXXII, pages 8264-8265), with José Vicente Antonetti Moreno of April 3, 2002. Cf., transcript of
interview (records of evidence, volume XXXII, pages 8267-8268), with Edgar Alfredo Hernández Parra on April 3,
2002 Cf., transcript of interview (records of evidence, volume XXXII, pages 8271-8272), with María Elisa González
Mijares on April 4, 2002 Cf. Transcript of interview (records of evidence, volume XXXII, pages 8273-8274); with
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