they carried out two inspections of Eduardo Landaeta’s corpse. In addition, during the autopsy performed on the corpse, three bullets were collected and forwarded to the Recovered Objects Room of the Mariño Police Department. The vehicle in which Eduardo Landaeta died was placed in the parking lot of the Mariño Police Department for safekeeping. 122 99. On January 24, 1997, the Microscopy Unit of the General Police Technical Division analyzed the gunpowder residue on the hands of agents CARM and CARA with positive results. 123 100. In parallel, on January 7, 1997, the Internal Affairs Department of the Police General Inspectorate opened a preliminary administrative inquiry under the Disciplinary Punishment Regulations of the Public Security Corps of the state of Aragua. The inquiry was declared closed due to lack of sufficient evidence. 124 101. Continuing the criminal investigation, on January 28, March 10, July 22 and October 22, 1997, the Criminalistics Laboratory of the CTPJ of the region of Aragua performed the hematological and forensic tests on the evidence collected. 125 Also, on July 22, 1998, the Police Technical Section of the CTPJ made an expert appraisal of some of the evidence collected. 126 102. On July 10, 1997, the Forensic Medicine Unit sent the report of the autopsy performed on Eduardo Landaeta’s corpse on December 31, 1996, to the Mariño Police Department. The report indicated that the cause of death was a severe cerebral contusion resulting from two bullets, and thirteen bullet wounds to different parts of the body; other injuries were also observed (infra para. 200). 127 103. On August 27, 1997, the Justice and Peace Human Rights Committee of the state of Aragua, representing María Magdalena Mejías, asked the Ninth Prosecutor to notify the Court of the Santiago Mariño and Libertador Municipalities to open preliminary inquiry into unlawful conduct by a State agent against the police agents who presumably participated in the murder of Eduardo Landaeta. Accordingly, on March 25, 1998, the Ninth Prosecutor asked the Court of the Municipality of Mariño of the state of Aragua to conduct a preliminary inquiry into unlawful conduct by a State agent against police 122 Cf. Inspection of the scene of the incident of December 31, 1996 (annexes to the answering brief, folios 7119 and 7137); inspection of the corpse of Eduardo Landaeta of December 31, 1996 (annexes to the answering brief, folio 7144); inspection of the corpse of Eduardo Landaeta of December 31, 1996 (annexes to the answering brief, folio 7147); record of transfer of December 31, 1996 (annexes to the answering brief, folio 7146), and autopsy report of December 31, 1996 (annexes to the answering brief, folios 7207 to 7210), and police record of December 31, 1996 (annexes to the answering brief, folio 7141). 123 Cf. Analysis of gunpowder residue on January 24, 1997 (annexes to the answering brief, folios 7183 and 7184). 124 Cf. Note of the National Police Headquarters of January 7, 1997 (annexes to the answering brief, folio 7444), and undated certification of the Investigation Division of the Police General Inspectorate (annexes to the answering brief, folio 7417). 125 Cf. Report of forensic tests and hematological appraisals of January 28, 1997 (annexes to the answering brief, folios 7185 and 7186); report of forensic tests and hematological appraisals of March 10, 1997 (annexes to the answering brief, folios 7187 and 7188); report of forensic tests and hematological appraisals of March 10, 1997 (annexes to the answering brief, folios 7189 to 7191); report of forensic tests and hematological appraisals of July 22, 1997 (annexes to the answering brief, folios 7211 and 7212), and report of forensic tests and hematological appraisals of October 22, 1997 (annexes to the answering brief, folio 7225 and 7526). 126 Cf. Report of forensic tests of July 22, 1998 (annexes to the answering brief, folios 7229 and 7230). The elements subject to this forensic test were: five bullets; nine 7.65 mm shells that formed part of the body of a bullet; a pair of handcuffs normally used in police work, and also by the Armed Forces; two women’s rings, and a pair of rubber sandals. 127 Cf. Autopsy report of July 10, 1997 (annexes to the answering brief, folios 7209 and 7210). 26