TABLE OF CONTENTS
I INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND CAUSE OF ACTION ................................. 3
II PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT ............................................................ 3
III JURISDICTION .......................................................................................... 5
IV PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS ........................................................................ 5
A. Preliminary objection concerning the alleged violation of the principle
of procedural equality and the right of defense ........................................ 5
A.1. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission .............................5
A.2. Considerations of the Court ..............................................................6
B. Fourth instance objection ................................................................... 7
B.1. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission .............................7
B.2. Considerations of the Court ..............................................................8
C. Preliminary objection concerning the alleged failure to exhaust
domestic remedies ................................................................................... 8
C.1. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission .............................8
C.2. Considerations of the Court ..............................................................9
V EVIDENCE ................................................................................................. 13
A. Admission of the documentary evidence .......................................... 13
B. Admission of the statement and the expert evidence ....................... 13
VI FACTS ...................................................................................................... 14
A. The criminal proceedings against Scot Cochran ................................ 14
B. The system of appeals against the criminal judgment and the remedies
filed ........................................................................................................ 18
B.1. Remedy of cassation.......................................................................... 18
B.2. First review procedure ....................................................................... 19
B.3. Second review procedure ................................................................... 20
B.4. Third review procedure ...................................................................... 20
C. Relevant legal framework ................................................................ 21
VII MERITS .................................................................................................. 25
VII-1 RIGHT TO PERSONAL LIBERTY AND JUDICIAL GUARANTEES, IN
PARTICULAR THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION AND EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO
CONSULAR ASSISTANCE, IN RELATION TO THE OBLIGATIONS TO RESPECT
AND TO ENSURE RIGHTS .............................................................................. 26
A. Arguments of the parties and observations of the Commission
26
B. Considerations of the Court .............................................................. 28
VII-2 RIGHT TO JUDICIAL GUARANTEES, IN PARTICULAR AN IMPARTIAL
JUDGE, IN RELATION TO THE OBLIGATIONS TO RESPECT AND TO ENSURE
RIGHTS ........................................................................................................ 33
A. Arguments of the parties and observations of the Commission
33
B. Considerations of the Court .............................................................. 34
VII-3 RIGHT TO APPEAL THE JUDGMENT BEFORE A HIGHER COURT, IN
RELATION TO THE OBLIGATIONS TO RESPECT AND TO ENSURE RIGHTS, AND
TO ADOPT DOMESTIC LEGAL PROVISIONS ................................................... 37
A. Arguments of the parties and observations of the Commission ........ 37
B. Considerations of the Court .............................................................. 38
VIII OPERATIVE PARAGRAPHS ..................................................................... 41
2