proceeding No. 2332 to the Judicial District of Bogota.365 The trial was assigned to the Eighth Special Criminal Judge of the Bogota Circuit.366 175. In a communication sent to the 14th Special Prosecutor of the UNDH-DIH in May 2010, the accused Rubén Darío Rendón Blanquicet indicated his wish to enter a plea bargain.367 176. On November 23, 2010, the statement of Carlos Alfonso Velásquez Romero, second-incommand of the 17th Brigade in 1996, was heard by the Eighth Special Court of the Bogota Circuit. In his statement Colonel Velásquez Romero alleged that the Brigade Commander, Rito Alejo del Rio, had been unwilling to combat the paramilitary groups decisively.368 177. On May 11, 2011, C.A.F. gave his testimony, and stated that, as a professional soldier in the 17th Brigade, he witnessed the mutual support between the paramilitary groups and the Army.369 Meanwhile, Fredy Rendón Herrera gave his statement on May 12, 2011.370 178. Diego Luis Hinestroza Moreno entered a plea bargain, and to this end, an indictment was drawn up for murder of a protected person, forced displacement, and conspiracy to commit a crime on January 18, 2011.371 However, on June 28, 2012, the Criminal Court of the Special Circuit of Quibdó declared that the indictment and Mr. Hinestroza Moreno’s acceptance of the charges for the plea bargain were null and, therefore, the judge abstained from handing down an early judgment.372 179. On August 23, 2012, the Eighth Criminal Court of the Bogota Special Circuit delivered judgment convicting Rito Alejo del Río Rojas as having command responsibility in an organized power structure, in relation to the murder of Marino López Mena.373 This judgment was appealed by the defense and is being examined by the Superior Court of Bogota.374 180. Regarding the other accused in this proceeding, the Court notes that, on October 26, 2012, the legal situation of Luis Muentes Mendoza and Fredy Rendón Herrera was changed to possible co-perpetrators of the concurrent offenses of aggravated homicide, forced 365 Cf. Report dated February 4, 2013, presented by the State with complete and updated information on the status of the investigations related to the facts of the case (evidence file, folio 15487). See also: Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of August 27, 2009, para. 184 (evidence file, folio 7629). 366 Cf. Report dated February 4, 2013, presented by the State with complete and updated information on the status of the investigations related to the facts of the case (evidence file, folio 15488). 367 Cf. Communication sent to the 14th Special Prosecutor of the UNDH-DIH signed by Rubén Darío Blandón Blanquiceth. Received by the prosecutor on May 18, 2010 (evidence file, folio 17698). 368 Cf. Testimony of former Army Colonel C.A.V.R. in the trial against retired General Rito Alejo del Rio before the Eighth Special Criminal Court (Video; evidence file, folio 9981). See also: Report of May 31, 1996, of C.A.V.R. addressed to the Commander of the Army, Santa Fé de Bogota (evidence file, folios 9985 to 9994). 369 Cf. Prosecutor General’s Office. Case file 2332, public hearing of testimony of C.A.F. (evidence file, folio 9996). 370 Cf. Testimony of Fredy Rendón Herrera before the Eighth Special Criminal Court of Bogota, during the proceeding against Rito Alejo del Río Rojas (evidence file, folio 8742). The evidence file before this Court also contains other statements made by Mr. Rendón Herrera (evidence file, folios 18372 and and ff., 17361 and ff., 17473 and ff., 18374 and ff., 17870 and ff., 17914 and ff.). 371 Cf. Indictment with charges for the plea bargain. 14th Special Prosecutor, UNDH-DIH, January 18, 2011 (evidence file, folio 17644). See also: on January 18, 2011, Mr. Hinestroza Moreno expanded his statement (evidence file, folio 17708). 372 Cf. Interlocutory judgment No. 003 of the Quibdó Special Circuit, of June 28, 2012. In this ruling, the judge ordered that once it was final, the proceeding should be returned to the original court (evidence file, folio 17675). 373 Cf. Judgment in proceeding 2009-063. Eighth Special Criminal Court of Bogota, August 23, 2012; original volume No. 22 (evidence file, folio 44384). See also: Report dated February 4, 2013, presented by the State with complete and updated information on the status of the investigations related to the facts of the case (evidence file, folio 15490). 374 Cf. Report dated February 4, 2013, presented by the State with complete and updated information on the status of the investigations related to the facts of the case (evidence file, folio 15490). 66