17 82. On November 21, 1996, the Office of the Ninth Prosecutor in and for Aragua State requested that the case file be forwarded in order to evaluate “the participation of police officers in the 71 performance of their duties.” On November 27, 1996, the same prosecutor's office requested information on Gerardo Castillo Freites’ and Andrés José Castillo’s connection with the CSOP at the time 72 of the events and at the time of the request. On January 8, 1997, the Commandant of the CSOP 73 reported that the above-named officers were still on active duty. 83. On February 24, 1997, the Office of the Ninth Prosecutor in and for Aragua State presented a formal indictment against officers Gerardo Castillo Freites and Andrés José Castillo García 74 for the crimes of homicide and improper use of a firearm. 84. On September 12, 1997, the Lower Court of the Municipalities of Santiago Mariño and Libertador in Aragua State, announced the closure of the preliminary investigation based on lack of conclusive proof “that the punishable act had been committed” and lack of evidence of the guilt of the 75 accused officers. The evidence supporting the above decision were the statements of persons who were present at the scene, which differed over the existence or nonexistence of an exchange of fire 76 between the officers and Igmar Alexander. That decision was upheld by the Sixth Criminal Court on 77 October 1 that same year. 85. On November 11, 1997, the Third Superior Criminal Court in and for Aragua State vacated the decision of September 12, 1997, mentioned in the preceding paragraph. At the same time, it ordered the judicial detention of officers Gerardo Castillo Freites and Andrés José Castillo García, citing “compelling evidence of guilt and criminal responsibility” against them for the crimes of a intentional 78 homicide and improper use of a firearm. This court underscored that the cause of death was a gunshot 79 to the bridge of the nose, which left a contusion ring. Furthermore, the court held that, by failing to identify themselves and by withdrawing from the medical center where they left the body, the officers involved did not act in a manner consistent with the standards to which they were bound as members of 80 the security forces. 86. On May 21, 1998, the Office of the Sixth Prosecutor of the Attorney General's Office filed charges against officers Gerardo Castillo Freites and Andrés José Castillo García for the crimes of 71 Appendix 32. Request from the Ninth Prosecutor of the Attorney General's Office to the Judicial Police Technical Corps, November 21, 1996 (Appendix 28 to the petitioners' brief of August 14, 2009). 72 Appendix 33. Official letter to the Court of the Municipality of Mariño, November 27, 1996, (Appendix 29 to the petitioners' brief of August 14, 2009). 73 Appendix 20. Decision of the Office of the Sixth Prosecutor in and for Aragua State Judicial District, May 21, 1998 (Appendix 34 to the petitioners' brief of August 14, 2009), p. 5. 74 Appendix 34. Formal indictment before the Office of the Ninth Prosecutor in and for Aragua State Judicial District, February 24, 1997 (Appendix 30 to the petitioners' brief of August 14, 2009). 75 Appendix 35. Closure of the preliminary investigation by the Lower Court of the Municipalities of Santiago Mariño and Libertador in Aragua State, September 12, 1997 (Appendix 31 to the petitioners' brief of August 14, 2009). 76 Appendix 35. Closure of the preliminary investigation by the Lower Court of the Municipalities of Santiago Mariño and Libertador in Aragua State, September 12, 1997 (Appendix 31 to the petitioners' brief of August 14, 2009). In reference to the declaration of the citizen José Gregorio del Rosso Dona. 77 Appendix 20. Decision of the Office of the Sixth Prosecutor in and for Aragua State Judicial District, May 21, 1998 (Appendix 34 to the petitioners' brief of August 14, 2009), p. 6. 78 Appendix 36. Decision of the Third Superior Criminal Court in and for Aragua State Judicial District, November 11, 1997 (Appendix 33 to the petitioners' brief of August 14, 2009); and Appendix 20. Decision of the Office of the Sixth Prosecutor in and for Aragua State Judicial District, May 21, 1998 (Appendix 34 to the petitioners' brief of August 14, 2009), p. 6 79 Appendix 36. Decision of the Third Superior Criminal Court in and for Aragua State Judicial District, November 11, 1997 (Appendix 33 to the petitioners' brief of August 14, 2009). 80 Appendix 36. Decision of the Third Superior Criminal Court in and for Aragua State Judicial District, November 11, 1997 (Appendix 33 to the petitioners' brief of August 14, 2009).