TABLE OF CONTENTS
I INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND CAUSE OF ACTION................................................... 4
II PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT .............................................................................. 5
III JURISDICTION ............................................................................................................ 6
IV PRELIMINARY OBJECTION ........................................................................................... 6
A. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission .............................................................. 6
B. Considerations of the Court ............................................................................................ 7
V PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................. 7
A. The victims in this case .................................................................................................. 7
a.1 Arguments of the State and observations of the representatives ............................... 7
a.2 Considerations of the Court .................................................................................. 7
B. Determination of the factual framework ........................................................................... 8
VI EVIDENCE .................................................................................................................... 9
A. Admissibility of the documentary evidence ....................................................................... 9
B. Admissibility of the testimonial and expert evidence ........................................................ 10
VII FACTS ....................................................................................................................... 10
A. The Guatemalan legal framework for the death penalty ................................................... 10
B. Detention of Mr. Ruiz Fuentes and arguments concerning torture ...................................... 13
C. Criminal proceedings against Mr. Ruiz Fuentes................................................................ 15
c.1 Facts that resulted in the sentence convicting him ................................................ 15
c.2 Remedies filed .................................................................................................. 15
F. Escape from “El Infiernito” prison and subsequent death of Mr. Ruiz Fuentes ...................... 17
E. Investigation and judicial proceedings owing to the death of Mr. Ruiz Fuentes .................... 17
VIII MERITS ................................................................................................................... 18
VIII-1 RIGHT TO LIFE DUE TO THE IMPOSITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY ON MR. RUIZ
FUENTES ........................................................................................................................ 19
A. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission ............................................................ 19
B. Considerations of the Court .......................................................................................... 20
b.1 Imposition of the death penalty .......................................................................... 20
b.2 Right to appeal for clemency, a pardon or commutation of sentence ....................... 23
b.3 Violation of Article 2 of the American Convention .................................................. 23
b.4 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 24
VIII-2 RIGHT TO LIFE OWING TO THE DEATH OF MR. RUIZ FUENTES ........................... 24
A. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission ............................................................ 24
B. Considerations of the Court .......................................................................................... 25
VIII-3 RIGHT TO PERSONAL INTEGRITY AND PROHIBITION OF TORTURE AND OTHER
CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT ............................................................. 29
A. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission ............................................................ 29
B. Considerations of the Court .......................................................................................... 30
b.1 The arrest of Mr. Ruiz Fuentes ............................................................................ 30
b.2 Death row ........................................................................................................ 33
VIII-4 RIGHTS TO JUDICIAL GUARANTEES AND JUDICIAL PROTECTION ...................... 34
A. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission ............................................................ 34
2