proceedings in which clear violations of Article 4(2) of the Convention occurred, and in violation
of several precepts related to due process in the context of the criminal proceedings. (supra
paras. 145 and 158). In addition, the Court notes that in the expert opinion given by Mr.
Aldana Alfaro when Mr. Valenzuela was detained, he indicated that other effects “extend to
his situation […] on death row, such as depression, feelings of guilt, emotional turmoil, and
moderate anxiety about being distanced from family visits.”174
207. Therefore, the Court concludes that Mr. Valenzuela Ávila faced serious mental suffering
from the anguish of knowing he was on "death row" after a procedure that had numerous
shortcomings, which violated his right to physical, mental and moral integrity, contained in
article 5(1) of the American Convention and constituted cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment contrary to article 5(2) of the Convention, all in relation to article 1(1) of the same
instrument.
C. Conclusion
208. In light of all the arguments set forth, this Court considers that the State is responsible
for the violation of the prohibition of torture, the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman
and degrading treatment for having remained on "death row", and for the lack of adequate
medical care, in violation of Articles 5(1) and 5(2) and 11(1) of the American Convention, in
relation to Article 1(1) of the same instrument and in relation to Articles 1, 6 and 8 of the
IACPPT, to the detriment of Tirso Román Valenzuela Ávila.
VIII-5
RIGHT TO PERSONAL FREEDOM175
A. Arguments of the Commission and the parties
209. The representatives argued that the State violated the rights contained in Articles
7(1) to 7(5), in relation to 1(1) of the American Convention, to the detriment of Tirso Román
Valenzuela, because the alleged detention was “illegal and arbitrary”, since at the time of the
arrest there was no court order, the prerequisites for flagrant crime were not met, he was not
informed of his rights or the reason for the detention and, finally, his detention was not
diligently submitted to judicial review. Additionally, they alleged the violation of Articles 7(6)
and 25(1) of the Convention due to a writ of habeas corpus filed by Mr. Valenzuela, which was
denied. Neither the Commission nor the State made specific allegations regarding said
rights.
B. Considerations of the Court
210. It should be noted that, previously, the representatives alleged the violation of this
right not invoked by the Commission. In this regard, it is the established case law of this Court
that the alleged victims and their representatives may invoke the violation of rights other than
those included in the Merits Report, as long as they adhere to the facts contained in said
document.176
Psychological expert opinion rendered by Juan Cristobal Aldana Alfaro, supra.
Article 7 of the American Convention.
176
Cf. Case of Five Pensioners v. Peru. Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of February 28, 2003. Series C No.
98, para. 155, and Case of Coc Max et al. (Xamán Massacre) v. Guatemala. Merits, Reparations and Costs.
Judgment of August 22, 2018. Series C No. 356, para. 133.
174
175
51