58
Rafael Rojas Madrigal submitted several arguments pertaining to the lack of clear and formal
notification of the charges, with restrictions on the ability to continue to introduce evidence, difficulty in
gaining access to physical copies of the judgments, and deficiency in the public defense. Messrs. Carlos
Yépez Cruz, Luis Archbold Jay, Enrique Archbold Jay, Fernando Saldarriaga Saldarriaga and Miguel
Valverde alleged lack of clear and formal notification of the charges, bribery of their public defender,
preclusion from retaining private defense counsel, failure to understand the Spanish language and
inability to attain physical copies of the judgments. Lastly, another group of petitioners made allegations
regarding a violation of their right to a defense (see supra paragraph 15).
240. The Commission does not have sufficient evidence to determine whether the alleged
violations actually took place.
D.
Right to personal liberty (Article 7 of the American Convention, in connection with
Article 1.1 thereof)
241. Messrs. Jorge Martínez, Manfred Amrhein Pinto, Ronald Fernández Pinto, Carlos
Osborne Escalante, Carlos González Lizano, Arturo Fallas Zúñiga, and Rafael Rojas Madrigal, submitted
arguments on the right to personal liberty. Mr. Martínez submitted arguments on the duration of
preventive detention, while Manfred Amrhein Pinto, Ronald Fernández Pinto, Carlos Osborne Escalante,
Carlos González Lizano, Arturo Fallas Zúñiga, and Rafael Rojas Madrigal made additional arguments. The
Commission will rule separately on these arguments.
1.
Duration of preventive detention of Jorge Martínez
242. The Court has held that preventive detention is limited by the principles of legality, the
presumption of innocence, need and proportionality, all of which are strictly necessary in a democratic
society.339 It has also asserted that it is a precautionary rather than a punitive measure340 and that it is
the most severe measure that can be applied to the person accused of a crime, reason for which its
application must have an exceptional nature. In the view of that Court, the rule must be the
341
defendant’s liberty while a decision is made regarding his criminal responsibility. The Court has noted
that the personal characteristics of the alleged perpetrator and the seriousness of the crime that he is
charged with are not, in themselves, sufficient justification for preventive detention.342
243. As for the grounds warranting preventive detention, the organs of the system have
construed Article 7.3 of the American Convention to the effect that indicia of liability is a necessary
requirement but insufficient to impose such a measure. In the words of the Court,
339
IA Ct of HR, Case of López Álvarez. Judgment of February 1, 2006. Series C No. 141, para. 67; Case of García Asto
and Ramírez Rojas. Judgment of November 25, 2005. Series C No. 137, para. 106; Case of Palamara Iribarne. Judgment of
November 22, 2005. Series C No. 135, para. 197; and Case of Acosta Calderón. Judgment of June 24, 2005. Series C No. 129,
para. 74.
340
IA Ct of HR, Case of Suárez Rosero v. Ecuador. Judgment of November 12, 1997. Series C No. 35, para. 77.
341
IA Ct of HR, Case of López Álvarez. Judgment of February 1, 2006. Series C No. 141, para. 67; Case of García Asto
and Ramírez Rojas. Judgment of November 25, 2005. Series C No. 137, para. 106; Case of Palamara Iribarne. Judgment of
November 22, 2005. Series C No. 135, para. 196; and Case of Acosta Calderón. Judgment of June 24, 2005. Series C No. 129,
para. 74.
342
IA Ct of HR, Case of López Álvarez. Judgment of February 1, 2006. Series C No. 141, para. 69; Case of García Asto
and Ramírez Rojas. Judgment of November 25, 2005. Series C No. 137, para. 106; Case of Acosta Calderón. Judgment of June
24, 2005. Series C No. 129, para.75; and Case of Tibi. Judgment of September 7, 2004. Series C No. 114, para. 180.