to the case. 36 The Court decides to admit those documents that are complete or that, at least, allow
their source and date of publication to be verified, and will assess them taking into account the
37
whole body of evidence, the observations of the parties and the rules of sound judicial discretion.
42.
Also, regarding some documents indicated by the parties and the Commission by means of
electronic links, this Court has established that, if a party provides, at least, the direct electronic link
to the document cited as evidence and it is possible to access it, neither legal certainty nor
procedural balance is impaired, because it can be located immediately by the Court and the other
parties. 38 In this case, neither the other parties nor the Commission opposed or submitted
observations on the content and authenticity of such documents.
43.
Regarding the procedural occasion to present documentary evidence, according to Article
57(2) of the Rules of Procedure this must be presented, in general, together with the briefs
39
submitting the case, with motions and arguments, or answering the submission, as applicable.
The Court recalls that evidence provided outside the appropriate procedural opportunities is not
admissible, unless it complies with the exceptions established in the said Article 57(2) of the Rules
of Procedure, namely: force majeure, grave impediment, or if it refers to an event that occurred
after the procedural opportunities mentioned.
44.
During the public hearing (supra para. 10), the State and the representative presented
40
copies of which were delivered to the parties and the Commission, and they
various documents,
36
para. 14.
Cf. Case of Velásquez Rodríguez v. Honduras. Merits, supra, para. 146, and Case of Luna López v. Honduras, supra,
37
Cf. La República newspaper, April 24, 1992 (file of annexes to the motions and arguments brief, annex 3, folio 3014);
‘El Diario’ obedecía órdenes de la cúpula senderista [El Diario obeyed orders from the Shining Path leaders], El Comercio, April
24, 1992 (file of annexes to the motions and arguments brief, annex 4, folio 3016); Hay cinco requisitoriados en el Case of ‘El
Diario’ [Five arrest warrants have been issued in the case of El Diario], El Comercio, April 25, 1992 (file of annexes to the
motions and arguments brief, annex 5, folio 3018); Weekly publication Sí, Letra Muerta, week of April 20 to 26, 1992, p. 33 (file
of annexes to the motions and arguments brief, annex 6, folio 3021); Hay pruebas suficientes de que fue senderista [There is
sufficient proof of membership in Shining Path], Correo newspaper, November 13, 2007 (file of annexes to the Merits Report,
annex 37, folio 408); Consejo Nacional de Derechos Humanos denuncia serio desconocimiento de la ONG del exterior [National
Human Rights Council denounces serious ignorance of the foreign NGO], Correo newspaper, October 30, 2007 (file of annexes to
the Merits Report, annex 37, folio 409); Procuraduría vigilará rapidez en extradición de [Ms. J.] [Prosecutor will ensure that [Ms.
J.] is extradited promptly], Noticias, newsletter of the Office for the Supervision of the Judiciary (file of annexes to the Merits
Report, annex 37, folio 414); En Alemania hay voluntad para extraditar a [Ms. J.], [Germany willing to extradite [Ms. J.] Correo
newspaper, February 5, 2008 (file of annexes to the Merits Report, annex 37, folio 415); Canciller preocupado por galardón a
terrorista [J.] en EEUU [Minister of Foreign Affairs concerned by award to terrorist [J.] in the USA], Correo newspaper, October
29, 2007 (file of annexes to the motions and arguments brief, annex 49, folio 3133); Dircote captura a 56 senderistas y
desarticula su aparato de diffusion [Dircote captures 56 members of Shining Path and dismantles their dissemination apparatus],
La República newspaper, April 21, 1992, (annex to the final written arguments of the State, annex 4, folio 4310); Dircote acabó
con el ‘vocero’ de senderismo [Dircote silences Shining Path’s ‘voice’], La República newspaper, April 24, 1992 (file of annexes to
the State’s brief of June 24, 2013, annex 5, folios 4312 to 4314); Sendero gastaba 40 mil dólares al mes para mantener aparato
de propaganda [Shining Path spent US$40,000 a month on propaganda apparataus], La República newspaper, April 2, 1992 (file
of annexes to the State’s brief of June 24, 2013, annex 6, folio 4316), and articles entitled Procurador Galindo: Estado
desenmascarará engaños de [J.] a la CIDH [Prosecutor Galindo: State unmasks [J.’s] deception of IACHR] published on
the webpage of the Agencia Peruana de Noticias and on Tuteve.tv, on February 5 and 6, 2012 (merits report, folios 162
and 163), and Vamos a desenmascarar a [J.] [We will unmask [J.]], Peru21.pe, February 6, 2012 (merits report, folios
166 and 167).
38
Cf. Case of Escué Zapata v. Colombia. Merits, reparations and costs. Judgment of July 4, 2007. Series C No. 165, para.
26, and Case of the Constitutional Tribunal (Camba Campos et al.) v. Ecuador. Preliminary objections, merits, reparations and
costs. Judgment of August 28, 2013. Series C. No. 268, para. 34.
39
Despite this, the Court notes that, before presenting the motions and arguments brief, the representative had filed a
brief dated May 4, 2012 (supra para. 5), to which she attached evidence on declarations made by State agents and the
confidentiality of the presumed victim’s identity. The Court has already ruled on the confidentiality of the presumed victim’s
identity and considers it pertinent to admit the evidence provided, taking into account that the State and the Commission had
numerous opportunities to present their observations in this regard. This information and documentation will be assessed in
the context of the body of evidence and according to the rules of sound judicial discretion.
40
Cf. Record of delivery of documents. Public hearing of May 16, 2013 (merits report, folio 1285).
15