94.
When the proceedings had reached the stage of an agreement, 100 two new appeals
for review were filed by the official public defender of Cesar Alberto Mendoza 101 and Claudio
David Núñez, 102 on the same grounds as the first one. On April 18, 2012, it was decided to
joinder the three proceedings since they all had the same purpose. 103 On August 21, 2012,
about a week before the public hearing in the instant case was held (supra para. 12), the
Federal Criminal Cassation Chamber annulled the judgment delivered by the Oral Juvenile
Court on April 12, 1999 (supra para. 82), against Claudio David Núñez and Lucas Matías
Mendoza, and the judgments of April 4 and 9, 2000, handed down against César Alberto
Mendoza and Lucas Matías Mendoza (supra para. 84) in relation to the sentencing to life
imprisonment and reclusion for life, and declared that that paragraph 7 of article 80 of the
Criminal Code was unconstitutional “as regards the punishment of life imprisonment
established for children and adolescents.” Furthermore, it admitted the appeals in cassation
and on unconstitutionality that had previously been denied (supra para. 84), and ordered
“that the proceedings be referred [to the Oral Juvenile Court] so that, following a hearing,”
it establish new punishments for the three convicted youths, “based on the [said decision]
and especially on the guidelines set out in Report [172/10].” 104
D.3. Special federal appeal of the Prosecutor General against the decision handed
down in favor of César Alberto Mendoza, Claudio David Núñez and Lucas Matías
Mendoza in the appeal for review
95.
On September 4, 2012, the Prosecutor General filed a special federal appeal against
the decision of the Federal Criminal Cassation Chamber of August 21, 2012 (supra para.
94), basically, on the grounds that the principle of res judicata had been violated and that
the declaration of the unconstitutionality of paragraph 7 of article 80 of the Criminal Code
was “arbitrary.” 105 On September 27, 2012, the Second Chamber of the Federal Criminal
Cassation Chamber declared that the special federal appeal filed by the Prosecutor General
was inadmissible. Accordingly, on October 5, 2012, the Prosecutor General filed a remedy of
complaint before the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. 106 According to information
provided to the Court, at the date of delivery of this Judgment, this appeal had not been
decided, and thus the decision of the Second Chamber of the Federal Criminal Cassation
Chamber of August 21, 2012, granting the appeals for review in favor of Caesar Alberto
Mendoza, Claudio David Núñez and Lucas Matías Mendoza (supra para. 94) is not yet final.
D.4. Incidental plea for the release of César Alberto Mendoza, Claudio David Núñez
and Lucas Matías Mendoza
100
Cf. Note of the Secretary of the Chamber of February 15, 2012, in case No. 14,087 (file of annexes to the
answering brief, tome XV, folio 7955).
101
Cf. Appeal for review presented by Patricia García, defense counsel ad hoc of Cesar Alberto Mendoza in
case No. 15,311 (file of annexes to the answering brief, tome XV, folio 7903).
102
Cf. Appeal for review filed by Flavio Vega, had of official public defense office No. 2 on behalf of Claudio
David Núñez in case No. 15,312 (file of annexes to the answering brief, tome XV, folio 7924).
103
Cf. Note of the Secretary of the Chamber dated April 18, 2012, in case No. 14,087 (file of annexes to the
answering brief, tome XV, folio 7952).
104
Cf. Judgment of the Federal Criminal Cassation Chamber in case No. 14,087 of August 21, 2012 (file of
annexes to the representative’s final written arguments, tome XII, folios 8249 and 8330).
105
Cf. Special federal appeal filed by the Prosecutor General of the Nation on September 4, 2012, against the
Federal Criminal Cassation Chamber’s decision of August 21, 2012 (file of annexes to the representative’s final
written arguments, tome XII, folios 8365 and 8374).
106
Cf. Remedy of complaint of the Prosecutor General of the Nation filed before the Supreme Court of Justice
of the Nation of September 5, 2012 (merits file, tome III, folio 2354).
34