them that the alleged victim had been injected with a drug to put him to
sleep.
20. The petitioners stress that they received several diagnoses
regarding the death of Mr. Poblete Vilches and hence they believe that
the cause of his death has not been clarified. They report that the
hospital authorities refused to give them his X-Rays and tests, and
refused to perform an autopsy, in spite of the fact that they personally
requested one several times at the hospital, and subsequently requested
that one be ordered by the court that intervened in the investigation of
the death of the alleged victim.
21. The petitioners report that Ms. Blanca Margarita Tapia
Encina, wife of the alleged victim, lacking the wherewithal to hire a
lawyer, sought support to lodge a criminal complaint for homicide before
the justice authorities. On November 12, 2001, with the counsel of an
attorney from the Centro Jurídico Gratuito Yungay [Yungay Free Legal
Aid Center] of the Universidad Bolivariana [Bolivarian University], the
petitioners lodged a criminal complaint against the physicians that
treated the alleged victim, reporting them as guilty of the alleged crime
of negligent homicide. Along with the complaint, they requested a series
of procedures. They explained that their tardiness in filing their criminal
complaint was due to their lack of the resources necessary to hire a
lawyer and that they have changed counsel on several occasions due to
the fact that the students graduate and it becomes necessary to again
and again obtain a new legal representative to defend them without
charge.
22. The petitioners allege that judicial authorities have acted
with total indifference and negligence regarding the investigation of the
facts object of their complaint. With respect to the lack of progress in
judicial proceedings, the petitioners stress that “there is no justice in
this country for humble people. Government authorities have no interest
in investigating the death of people like my father.” The petitioners
highlight their concern that the accused continue to work as public
servants in the hospital, located only 10 minutes from the competent
court, in the same jurisdiction, and yet judicial authorities have not
executed the warrants for arrest issued for the purpose of obtaining the
testimony of the accused professionals.
23. On October 7, 2005, Mr. Vinicio Poblete Tapia, sponsored by
the Oficina de Derechos Humanos [Human Rights Office] of the
Corporación de Asistencia Judicial [Legal Aid Corporation], lodged a new
complaint “against those found responsible for the crime of negligent
6