occurred outside the bathroom, because no evidence was found that fragmentation devices
had been used inside the bathroom.” 511 Thus, the Special Court concluded that “[n]o bomb
or grenade exploded inside the bathroom, because there is not the slightest trace of such
an explosion and because none of the hostages who died were killed by an explosion.” 512
335. The Court notes that there are contradictions between the indications regarding the
death of Carlos Horacio Urán Rojas inside the Palace of Justice, because, on the one hand,
the statements affirm that he died inside the bathroom and, on the other, the judgment,
the judicial inspection, and the report of the Special Court indicate that his death occurred
outside the bathroom.
B.2.b) Indications that Carlos Horacio Urán Rojas left the Palace alive
and was detained
336. Different statements exist in which Justice Carlos Horacio Urán Rojas is identified
leaving the Palace of Justice alive. 513 Thus, the journalist Julia Navarrete, who was near the
entry to the Palace of Justice, asserted on several occasions that she had seen him leave on
November 7 “limping and [accompanied by] two soldiers.” 514 This information was given to
the wife of Mr. Urán Rojas, Ana María Bidegain. 515
337. Also, a friend of the family, the priest Fernán González, wrote a letter to Ana María
Bidegain stating that an eyewitness to the events had indicated that “Carlos Horacio [Urán
Rojas] did not die accidentally in the crossfire, by error, but was assassinated in a
premeditated way by the army in the patio of the Palace of Justice.” In this regard, he
explained that Mr. Urán Rojas “was accused of being an accomplice of the M-19 in the
assault and summarily executed,” and “the Army has spread rumors that Carlos was firing
against the Army.” 516 To date this information has not been confirmed by Father González
or by the said eyewitness.
338. In addition, Carlos Horacio Urán Rojas has been identified leaving the Palace by
several people. First, according to the testimony of Ms. Bidegain, on November 7, family
members and friends of Carlos Horacio Urán Rojas identified him among those exiting the
Palace of Justice in images transmitted at 7.30 a.m. by Noticiero 24 Horas. 517 Friends of the
511
Note of May 14, 1986, from the Institute of Forensic Medicine to the 77th Itinerant Criminal Investigation Judge
(evidence file, folio 38158).
512
Report of the Special Investigative Court (evidence file, folio 30527).
513
The Court notes that, according to the representatives’ arguments, the journalist Rodrigo Barrera also recognized
Mr. Urán Rojas. This was supported by Julia Navarrete in her statements. However, a copy of the testimony of Mr.
Barrera was not provided, so that it will not be taken into account. Cf. Testimony of Julia Alba Navarrete of October
15, 2010, before the Prosecution Service (evidence file, folio 14705).
514
Affidavit made on November 5, 2013, by Julia Navarrete Mosquera (evidence file, folio 35907); Testimony of
Julia Navarrete Mosquera of October 15, 2010 before the Prosecution Service (evidence file, folio 14706); Testimony
of Julia Navarrete Mosquera of January 13, 1986, before the Special Commission (evidence file, folio 14620); and
Testimony of Ana María Bidegain during the public hearing on the merits in this case. In this regard, the State argued
that Ms. Navarrete “is constantly indicating that her memory is not good while saying that she recognized Justice
Urán, after she had been influenced by someone else, specifically by Rodrigo Barrera.” However, the Court notes that
the deponent has been consistent in all her statements since 1986 that she recognized Mr. Urán Rojas leaving the
Palace alive. Also, the mere fact that another person was the first to point out Mr. Urán Rojas is not sufficient to
disprove the identification made by Ms. Navarrete.
515
Cf. Affidavit made on November 5, 2013, by Julia Navarrete Mosquera (evidence file, folio 35907).
516
Cf. Letter of November 19, 1985, from Fernán González to Ana María Bidegain (evidence file, folio 24183).
517
Cf. Testimony of Germán Castro Caycedo of April 2, 2012, before the 35th notary of the Bogota Circuit (evidence
file, folio 14683); Testimony of Ana María Bidegain of November 14, 1985 before the Second Special Court (evidence
file, folio 30592); Testimony provided by Luz Helena Sánchez Gómez before the Prosecution Service on August 16,
2007 (evidence file, folio 30599), and Affidavit made by Teresa Morales de Gómez on May 11, 2012 (evidence file,
folio 14692).
117
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