5 public (affidavit).3 26. On April 19, 2004 the Inter-American Commission reported that it had no observations to make on the statement rendered by Bent Sorensen before a notary public. On April 28, 2004 the State sent its observations to said statement. 27. On May 1, 2004 the representative of the alleged victims and their next of kin sent a video pertaining to the facts of the case. 28. On May 5, 6 and 7, 2004, at a public hearing on the merits, reparations, and costs, the Court heard the statements of the witnesses and the expert opinions of the expert witnesses proposed by the Inter-American Commission and by the representative of the alleged victims and their next of kin. The Court also heard the final oral pleadings of the Commission, of the representative of the alleged victims and their next of kin, and of the State. There appeared before the Court: on behalf of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: Freddy Gutiérrez, delegate; Santiago Canton, delegate; Ignacio J. Álvarez, advisor; Lilly Ching, advisor; and Marisol Blanchard, advisor. on behalf of the alleged victims and their next of kin: Mónica Feria Tinta, representative; and Zoe Harper, legal assistant. on behalf of the State of Peru: Julio Quintanilla Loaiza, agent. Witnesses offered by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: Marcelina Paquiyauri Illanes de Gómez; Ricardo Samuel Gómez Quispe; Lucy Rosa Gómez Paquiyauri; and Ángel del Rosario Vásquez Chumo. Witnesses offered by the representative of the alleged victims and their next of kin: Miguel Ángel Gómez Paquiyauri; Víctor Chuquitaype Eguiluz; and Jacinta Peralta Allccarima. Expert witnesses offered by the representative of the alleged victims and their next of kin: 3 On April 1, 2004 the representative of the alleged victims and their next of kin sent a letter wr4itten by Ole Vedel Rasmussen, who due to his appointment as Rapporteur to examine Peru under Article 20 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment, removed himself from acting as an expert witness in the instant case.