50 testicles while they were detained at the banks of Pizotla River.177 In this regard, the Court notes that even though in the medical certificates issued by the Mexican authorities regarding the physical integrity of the victims, it was mentioned some injury to their testicles as a result of the arrest (supra paras. 114 to 120), the expert opinion of Dr. Tramsen and Dr. Tidball-Binz concluded, in relation to Mr. Cabrera, that “[t]he right testicle is retracted and reduced to half the size of the left testicle,”178 while, in the case of Mr. Montiel, it was indicated that his testicles were in normal condition.179 Furthermore, it is worth emphasizing that the conclusions of the opinion of expert witnesses Tramsen and Tidball-Binz significantly coincide with those contained in the examination issued upon the release of Messrs. Cabrera and Montiel (supra para. 117) and with the expert opinion presented by expert witness Quiroga,180 given that the latter indicated that “[t]he medical examination demonstrates an atrophy of the right testicle that was previously described in the physical examination of Physicians for Human Rights in July 2000.”181 Notwithstanding the foregoing, expert witness Gutierrez Hernández associated these last conclusions to degenerative problems of old age of the victims and cholesterol related problems.182 128. On the other hand, the Court notes that during the domestic criminal proceeding, only Mr. Montiel indicated that “they got him wet to give him [electric] shocks during short periods of time.”183 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representatives stated that Mr. Cabrera Garcia received electric shocks in the left thigh. In this respect, the Tribunal emphasizes that electric shocks are a method of torture different from others due to the fact that it is difficult to determine if it was applied, since it is possible to use mechanisms to leave no visible marks.184 In the medical examination that was performed when the victims were leaving jail, it was indicated that in Mr. Montiel’s case there was a “dermatome area of insensitivity” 177 Hence, in his sworn statement before public notary, Mr. Cabrera García indicated that, after the blows he received, “[his] genitals hurt a lot, […] they were very swollen, [he] could not keep [his] legs either open or closed.” Cf. Statement rendered by Teodoro Cabrera Garcia before a public notary, supra note 147, folios 1194. For his part, in his testimony given before the Tribunal at the public hearing held in this case, Mr. Rodolfo Montiel stated, inter alia, that one of the soldiers “pulled down [his] pants and underpants and they pulled […] [his] testicles” and that “at times, he lost consciousness.” Cf. Statement rendered by Mr. Rodolfo Montiel Flores at the public hearing held in this case. 178 Cf. Physicians for Human Rights- Denmark. The case of Messrs. Cabrera and Montiel, supra note 165, folio 8381. 179 Cf. Physicians for Human Rights- Denmark. The case of Messrs. Cabrera and Montiel, supra note 165, folio 8380. 180 Expert witness indicated that Mr. Cabrera Garcia presented “a normal penis, an atrophied right testicle, and a normal left testicle.”.” The atrophy “was confirmed during [his] physical evaluation and documented with an ultrasound of the testicular region in May 2010. The atrophy of the right testicle is consistent with testicular atrophy secondary to trauma.”.” Regarding Mr. Montiel Flores, he stated that his “penis [was] normal [as well as] his testicles.” Cf. Expert report rendered by expert witness Jose Quiroga before a public notary, supra note 173, folios 1318, 1319 and 1326. 181 Cf. Expert report rendered by expert witness Jose Quiroga before a public notary, supra note 173, folio 1319. 182 Cf. Expert opinion rendered by expert witness Juana Ma. Gutiérrez Hernández at the public hearing, supra note 35. 183 184 Cf. Statement rendered by Mr. Rodolfo Montiel Flores at the public hearing, supra note 177. To this end, the Istanbul Protocol provides that “[s]ome forms of torture such as electrical shocks or blunt trauma may be initially undetectable, but may be detected during a follow-up examination.”.” However, “the type, time of application, current and voltage of the energy used cannot be determined with certainty upon physical examination of the victim. Torturers often use water or gels in order to increase the efficiency of the torture, expand the entrance point of the electric current on the body and prevent detectable electric burns […].”.” Cf. Istanbul Protocol, supra note 149, paras. 174 and 211.

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