CONTENTS I INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND CAUSE OF THE DISPUTE ................................. 4 II PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT ...................................................................... 5 III JURISDICTION ..................................................................................................... 7 IV PARTIAL RECOGNITION OF RESPONSIBILITY ...................................................... 7 A. PARTIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY BY THE STATE REGARDING THE ALLEGED OMISSION OF THE DUTY TO INVESTIGATE ACTS OF TORTURE……………………………………………………………………………………. 7 A.1. Arguments of the State and observations by the Commission and the representatives.. 8 A.2. Considerations of the Court................................................................................ 8 B. PARTIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE REGARDING THE NEED TO REFORM ARTICLE 201 BIS OF THE CRIMINAL CODE, WHICH DEFINES THE CRIME OF TORTURE ………..……………………..8 B.1. Arguments of the State and observations of the Commission and the representatives .. 8 B.2. Considerations of the Court................................................................................ 9 C. Conclusion. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………..10 V PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS ......................................................................... 11 A. REGARDING THE ALLEGATION OF THE INCLUSION OF NEW FACTS BY THE REPRESENTATIVES IN THEIR PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS BRIEF ………………………………………………………………………………………. ………..…11 A.1. Arguments of the State and observations of the Commission and the representatives 11 A.2. Considerations of the Court.............................................................................. 11 B. Regarding the determination of the alleged victims and possible beneficiaries of the reparation measures, and the lack of documentation on the link that accredits the inheritance of his mother, wife and partner …………………….. …………………. …………………………….13 B.1. Arguments of teh State and observations of the Commission and the representatives 13 B.2. Considerations of the Court.............................................................................. 14 VI EVIDENCE ........................................................................................................... 15 A. Admissibility of documentary evidence ……………………………………………………………………………..16 B. Admissibility of testimonial and expert evidence ……………………………………………………………… 17 VII FACTS ................................................................................................................. 17 A. Legislation in Guatemala …���……………………………………………………………………………………………….18 A.1. Legislation in force in Guatemala regarding torture at the time of the events ............ 18 A.2. Legislation in force in Guatemala regarding the deth penalty at the time of the events 19 B. Situation of Tirso Román Valenzuela Ávila and the criminal proceedings that culminated in the death sentence ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….20 B.1. Detention and search ..................................................................................... 19 B.2. Criminal procceedings against Mr. Valenzuela ..................................................... 20 B.2.1 Facts giving rise to the conviction of death penalty ……………………………………………………..20 C. Alleged torture and mistreatment, Mr. Valenzuela’s escapes and judicial proceedings carried out ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..22 C.1. Detention on May 27, 1998 .............................................................................. 22 C.2. His first escape and recapture ......................................................................... 22 C.3. Second escape and recapture ........................................................................... 23 C.4. Proceedings carried out by Mr. Valenzuela and his defense in relation to the alleged acts of violence ......................................................................................................... 23 C.5. Third escape, death of Mr. Valenzuela and “Operation Gavilan” .............................. 23 D. Investigation of Mr Valenzuela Ávila’s death …………………………………………………………………….26 VIII MERITS ............................................................................................................ 28 VIII-1 RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL AND JUDICIAL PROTECTION ................................. 28 A. Arguments of the Commission and the parties ………………………………………………………………….28 B. Considerations of the Court ………………………………………………………………………………………………..29 B.1. Criminal proceeedings that resulted in the death sentence against Mr. Valenzuela Ávila29 B.1(1). Minimum judicial guarantees ........................................................................ 29 B.1.2. Scope of Articles 8(2) and 8(2)(g) .................................................................. 30 2