29
December 16, 2004, because “no procedures [had] taken place that might invalidate the
[appealed ruling].”49
67.33.
On January 20, 2005, the parents of Gilson Nogueira de Carvalho, in their
capacity as third-party plaintiffs in the charges, filed a special motion and an extraordinary
remedy requesting that the jury's verdict be reversed. On February 16, 2005, Otávio
Ernesto Moreira submitted his pleadings and asked the Court not to refer these motions to
the higher courts. On the same date, the President of the State Court of Rio Grande do
Norte received the “closed court records” to pass on the admissibility of the appeals. On
May 11, 2005, the State Court of Rio Grande do Norte referred the appeals to the Higher
Court and to the Federal Supreme Court.50
VIII
ARTICLES 8(1) AND 25(1)OF THE AMERICAN CONVENTION
(RIGHT TO A FAIR TRAIL AND RIGHT TO JUDICIAL PROTECTION)
IN RELATION TO ARTICLE 1(1)
(OBLIGATION TO RESPECT RIGHTS)
Arguments of the Commission
68.
The Commission argues, inter alia, that:
a)
it takes no position on the alleged violation of Article 4 of the Convention.
b)
concerning the right to a fair trial and the right to judicial protection, it states that:
i.
The conduct of authorities in investigating the death of Gilson Nogueira de
Carvalho was faulty, taking into account the previously existing evidence of possible
involvement by members of the civil police force of the State of Rio Grande do Norte
in the murder of Gilson Nogueira de Carvalho, the later discovery of one of the
weapons used for the crime in the possession of Otávio Ernesto Moreira, who at the
time of the homicide was an active member of this police force, and his statement to
the effect that his shotgun was used by himself and by other officers. All this should
have led investigators to take certain measures at the very least: find out to whom
Otávio Ernesto Moreira lent his weapon and question them; find out whether his
49
Cf. appeal lodged by the Office of the Public Prosecutor on June 28, 2002 (file of appendixes to the
response to the application, Appendix 1, Volume 6, folios 5169 through 5176); appeal lodged by Jaurídice Nogueira
de Carvalho and Geraldo Cruz de Carvalho on July 16, 2002 (file of appendixes to the response to the application,
Appendix 1, Volume 6, folios 5180 through 5202); ruling of the Criminal Chamber of the State Court of Rio Grande
do Norte, February 6, 2004 (file of appendixes to the response to the application, Appendix 1, Volume 6, folios
5348 through 5365); “motion of interpretation” lodged by Jaurídice Nogueira de Carvalho and Geraldo Cruz de
Carvalho on March 9, 2004 (file of appendixes to the response to the application, Appendix 1, Volume 6, folios
5366 through 5369); and ruling by the Criminal Chamber of the State Court of Rio Grande do Norte, December 16,
2004 (file of appendixes to the response to the application, Appendix 1, Volume 6, folios 5380 through 5383).
50
Cf. special motion and extraordinary remedy lodged by Jaurídice Nogueira de Carvalho and Geraldo Cruz
de Carvalho on January 20, 2005 (file of appendixes to the response to the application, Appendix 1, Volume 6,
folios 5387 through 5467 and 5486 through 5539); rebuttal filed by Otávio Ernesto Moreira on February 16, 2005
(file of appendixes to the response to the application, Appendix 1, Volume 6, folios 5544 through 5548 and 5549
through 5553); and order by the Judicial Secretariat of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, February 16, 2005 (file of
appendixes to the response to the application, Appendix 1, Volume 6, folio 5554).