judicial proceedings launched as a consequence of the alleged enforced
disappearance of Iván Eladio Torres Millacura.
d) Alejandro Mejías Fonrouge and Eduardo Arizaga. Members of the Special
Investigation Unit set up to investigate the alleged disappearance of Iván Eladio
Torres. Expert witness statement offered by the representatives. They referred to
the investigations carried out by that Unit; the existing body of evidence; the
conduct and levels of cooperation on the part of authorities during the
investigations, and the conclusions reached through their investigation.
e) Gastón Zoroastro. Psychologist. Expert witness statement offered by the
representatives. Referred to the psychological effects of the alleged enforced
disappearance of Iván Eladio Torres on his family as a group and on each of its
members: María Leontina Millacura Laipén, Fabiola Valeria Torres and Marcos
Alejandro Torres Millacura, Evelyn Caba, and Ivana and Romina Torres. They also
addressed the questions posed by the State. 19
40.
With regard to the evidence given during the public hearing, the Court heard the
testimony of:
a) María Leontina Millacura Llaípén, mother of Iván Eladio Torres. Alleged victim.
Testimony offered by the representatives. She addressed the composition of the
family prior to October 2, 2003; her son’s activity at the moment of his alleged
enforced disappearance, and his relationship with the police of the Province of
Chubut prior to October 2, 2003; the circumstances of his alleged enforced
disappearance on October 2, 2003; the various attempts made by her to discover
his whereabouts in the period immediately following his alleged disappearance;
the alleged responses to and attitude toward these attempts on the part of the
authorities; the alleged lack of State willingness to investigate the facts and the
consequences of all these situations; the alleged lack of State willingness to
provide information on the judicial proceedings launched as a consequence of the
alleged enforced disappearance of Iván Eladio Torres; the alleged obstacles faced
by the family since his disappearance, and the consequences for her personal and
family life after October 2, 2003.
b) Nora Cortiñas, Social Psychologist. Expert witness statement offered by the
representatives. Addressed the causes and consequences of the alleged
phenomenon of enforced disappearances in the Province of Chubut, Argentina;
the socio-cultural patterns that make the alleged violations of human rights by
police personnel of the Province of Chubut possible; the socio-cultural patterns
that condition judicial actions with regard to the enforced disappearance of
persons; the alleged needs for institutional strengthening and adoption of holistic
strategies for preventing, sanctioning, and eradicating the alleged enforced
disappearances in the Province of Chubut; access to justice for the victims of
enforced disappearance and their families; the alleged conduct of authorities with
19
In application of Article 50(5) of the Rules of Procedure, on May 5, 2011, the State prepared four
questions to be answered by the expert witness Gastón Zoroastro when giving his statement before the notary
public. The State requested that the expert witness: i) answer whether the disappearance of Iván Torres
psychiatrically affected the members of his family, particularly María Leontina Millacura Llaipén and Marcos
Alejandro Torres Millacura, Evelyn Caba, and Ivana and Romina Torres. In the affirmative case, that he
describe the psychiatric diagnosis; ii) in the hypothetical case that psychological damage exists, differentiate
between the different levels of incapacity, its range, and scales used for its determination in each of the cases;
iii) describe the tests carried out on each of the individuals indicated in point i) and submit a copy of the
psychological examination, graphics, etc. that provide scientific backing for his conclusions; and iv) indicate if
due to the “fact on the record (the disappearance of Iván Torres),” the individuals indicated in point i) need to
be submitted to some kind of treatment. Should the answer be yes, that he indicate its cost, duration, and
possible prognosis.
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