2 Table of contents I INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND CAUSE OF ACTION ........................................................ 3 II PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT .................................................................................. 4 III JURISDICTION ................................................................................................................. 5 IV PRELIMINARY OBJECTION ................................................................................................ 5 A. PRELIMINARY OBJECTION OF RES JUDICATA ............................................................................... 5 A.1. Arguments of the State and observations of the representatives and of the Commission. ...... 6 A.2. Considerations of the Court ......................................................................................... 6 V PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS ....................................................................................... 7 A. ARGUMENTS OF THE PARTIES AND OF THE COMMISSION ................................................................ 7 B. CONSIDERATIONS OF THE COURT ............................................................................................ 7 VI EVIDENCE ......................................................................................................................... 7 A. ADMISSION OF DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE .................................................................................. 7 B. ADMISSIBILITY OF TESTIMONIAL AND EXPERT EVIDENCE ............................................................... 8 VII FACTS .............................................................................................................................. 8 A. GUATEMALAN LEGISLATION ................................................................................................... 8 A.1. Laws in force in Guatemala at the time of the facts ......................................................... 8 A.2. Rules for the appointment of defense counsel ................................................................. 9 A.3. Amendments to the regulation of the death penalty in Guatemala ................................... 10 B. CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AND EXECUTION OF ROBERTO GIRÓN AND PEDRO CASTILLO ......................... 11 B.1. Facts with regard to the criminal proceedings and execution of Messrs. Girón and Castillo . 11 VIII MERITS ........................................................................................................................ 15 VIII-1 RIGHT TO LIFE......................................................................................................... 15 A. ARGUMENTS OF THE COMMISSION AND OF THE PARTIES .............................................................. 15 B. CONSIDERATIONS OF THE COURT .......................................................................................... 16 B.1. Mandatory imposition of the death penalty established in article 175 (Decree 17-73) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Guatemala. ...................................................................... 16 C. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................... 18 VIII-2 PERSONAL INTEGRITY ............................................................................................. 18 A. ARGUMENTS OF THE COMMISSION AND OF THE PARTIES .............................................................. 18 B. CONSIDERATIONS OF THE COURT .......................................................................................... 19 C. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................... 22 VIII-3 RIGHT TO JUDICIAL GUARANTEES ........................................................................... 23 A. ARGUMENTS OF THE COMMISSION AND OF THE PARTIES .............................................................. 23 B. CONSIDERATIONS OF THE COURT .......................................................................................... 24 B.1. The absence of a technical defense for the defendants ................................................... 25 B.2. Right to appeal the alleged victims’ conviction .............................................................. 28 B.3. Public nature of the criminal proceedings ..................................................................... 30 C. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................... 32 IX REPARATIONS................................................................................................................ 32 A. INJURED PARTY ............................................................................................................... 33 B. MEASURES OF SATISFACTION ............................................................................................... 33 C. OTHER MEASURES REQUESTED .............................................................................................. 33 D. COMPENSATION ............................................................................................................... 35 D.1 Non-pecuniary damage .............................................................................................. 36 E. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES TO THE VICTIMS’ LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND ...................................... 37 F. METHOD FOR COMPLYING WITH THE PAYMENTS ORDERED ............................................................. 38 X OPERATIVE PARAGRAPHS ................................................................................................ 38