73 was located244. Mr. Elvis Elier Flores Rivas mentioned that a police officer accompanied the news team of Globovisión245. Mr. Richard López confirmed the above version246. 256. On March 1, 2004 the 21º Plenipotentiary Public Prosecutor ordered, ex officio, the beginning of the investigation247 and several interviews were conducted with people in their capacity as witnesses248. The State informed that on September 1, 2005 the Assistant Public Prosecutor Office ordered the discontinuance without prejudice of the case based on the fact that the forensic medical examination was not conducted on due time, the insufficient information furnished and that it was impossible to obtain items of evidence using other means249. According to the State, on November 4, 2005, such Prosecutor Office served notice of the discontinuance on Carla María Angola, Kliever Flores Rivas and Richard Alexis López Valles, as well as on the Legal Department of Globovisión. Considering that the State admitted that no legal-medical examination was conducted, in spite of the fact that the proceeding was initiated ex officio and that the State did not justify the reasons why such examination was not conducted, this Tribunal finds that the State did not act with sufficient diligence during the course of the investigation. 257. The Court notes that even though the testimonies are not clear as to the presence, in that place, of a police officer that was accompanying the alleged victims, it is possible to conclude that the facts constituted a hindrance to perform the jobs of the alleged victims in a specific situation, on the part of the individuals. * * * 258. The Commission argued that on May 29, 2004 a news team comprised of reporter Martha Palma Troconis, cameraman Joshua Torres and his assistant, Victor Henríquez was attacked and threatened, in the neighbor of La Lucha in Caracas while they were covering the recall referendum signature verification process. Moreover, Mr. Torres was beaten in the head with a pipe and the camera was snatched from him and that the reporter was also beaten by the demonstrators, who pushed her to the ground250. The State mentioned that 244 Cf., transcript of interview with Carla Maria Angola Rodríguez of April 21, 2004 before the 21º Plenipotentiary Assistant Public Prosecutor Office (records of evidence, volume XXXII, page 8448-8449). 245 Cf., transcript of interview with Elvis Elier Flores Rivas of May 3, 2004 before the 21º Plenipotentiary Assistant Public Prosecutor Office (records of evidence, volume XXXII, page 8450). 246 Cf., transcript of interview with Richard Alexis López Valle of May 3, 2004 before the 21º Plenipotentiary Assistant Public Prosecutor Office (records of evidence, volume XXXII, page 8451). 247 Cf. Order to conduct an investigation issued by the 21º Plenipotentiary Public Prosecutor Office of March 1, 2004 (records of evidence, volume XXXII, page 8443). 248 Cf. transcript of interview with Carla María Angola Rodríguez of April 21, 2004 before the 21º Plenipotentiary Assistant Public Prosecutor Office (records of evidence, volume XXXII, page 8448-8449) ; transcript of interview with Elvis Elier Flores Rivas of May 3, 2004 before the 21º Plenipotentiary Assistant Public Prosecutor Office (records of evidence, volume XXXII, pages 8450) and transcript of Interview with Richard Alexis López Valle on May 3, 2004 before the 21º Plenipotentiary Assistant Public Prosecutor Office (records of evidence, volume XXXII, pages 8451) 249 Cf. Discontinuance without prejudice of the case decreed by the 21º Plenipotentiary Assistant Public Prosecutor Office on September 1, 2005 (records of evidence, volume XXXII, pages 8452-8453). 250 The Commission argued that on May 29, 2004 a news team comprised of reporter Martha Palma Troconis, cameraman Joshua Torres and his assistant, Victor Henríquez was attacked and threatened, in the neighbor of La Lucha in Caracas while they were covering the recall referendum signature verification process. Upon Cf.ing that a team from the station was present, one female demonstrator approached the reporter and threatened to attack her if they did not leave immediately. When the cameraman got out of the vehicle to try and film what was happening,

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