VI FACTS ..................................................................................................................... 14 A. Alleged problem of extrajudicial executions committed by police agents in Venezuela .. 15 B. The threats received from police agents................................................................. 17 C. Death of Igmar Alexander Landaeta Mejías ............................................................ 18 C.1 Version of seven eye witnesses and a doctor ........................................................ 18 C.2 Version of two police agents and two eye witnesses .............................................. 19 D. Detention and death of Eduardo José Landaeta Mejías ............................................. 20 E. Investigation into the death of Igmar Alexander Landaeta Mejías .............................. 21 F. Investigation into the death of Eduardo José Landaeta Mejías................................... 25 VII MERITS ................................................................................................................. 29 VII-1 RIGHTS TO LIFE AND TO HUMANE TREATMENT, IN RELATION TO THE OBLIGATION TO RESPECT AND ENSURE THESE RIGHTS WITH REGARD TO IGMAR ALEXANDER LANDAETA MEJÍAS ................................................................................ 30 A. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission .................................................... 30 B. Considerations of the Court .................................................................................. 31 B.1 Preventive actions: lawfulness and exceptionality of the use of force in relation to the obligations to ensure rights and to adapt domestic law ................................................ 31 B.2 Actions at the time of the incident: legitimate purpose, absolute necessity and proportionality, in relation to the obligation to respect rights........................................ 33 B.3 Actions following the incident: due diligence and humanity in relation to the obligation to respect and ensure the right to life ....................................................................... 37 B.4 Conclusion with regard to Igmar Alexander Landaeta Mejías .................................. 39 VII-2 RIGHTS TO LIFE, TO HUMANE TREATMENT, TO PERSONAL LIBERTY, AND RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, IN RELATION TO THE OBLIGATION TO RESPECT AND ENSURE THESE RIGHTS WITH REGARD TO EDUARDO JOSÉ LANDAETA MEJÍAS ................................. 39 A. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission .................................................... 39 B. Considerations of the Court .................................................................................. 40 B.1 Right to personal liberty in relation to the rights of the child ................................... B.2 Right to life in relation to the rights of the child .................................................... B.3 Right to humane treatment in relation to the rights of the child and the obligation of guarantee in relation to the alleged acts of torture...................................................... B.4 Conclusion with regard to Eduardo José Landaeta Mejías ....................................... 41 46 51 53 VII-3 RIGHTS TO JUDICIAL GUARANTEES AND TO JUDICIAL PROTECTION WITH REGARD TO IGMAR ALEXANDER AND EDUARDO JOSÉ LANDAETA MEJÍAS ................ 53 A. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission .................................................... 53 B. Considerations of the Court .................................................................................. 56 B.1 Absence of joint investigations into the deaths of the Landaeta Mejías brothers ........ 58 B.2 Due diligence and reasonable time during the investigations and the criminal proceedings relating to the death of Igmar Alexander Landaeta Mejías .......................... 59 B.3 Due diligence and reasonable time during the investigations and the criminal proceedings regarding the death of Eduardo José Landaeta Mejías................................ 68 VII-4 RIGHT TO PERSONAL INTEGRITY OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS ............................. 78 A. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission .................................................... 78 B. Considerations of the Court .................................................................................. 79 VIII REPARATIONS ..................................................................................................... 82 A. Injured party ...................................................................................................... 82 B. Obligation to investigate the events that resulted in the violations and to identify, prosecute and punish, as appropriate, those responsible ................................................. 83 C. Measures of rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition ................... 84 C.1 Measures of rehabilitation .................................................................................. 84 C.2 Measures of satisfaction..................................................................................... 84 C.3 Guarantees of non-repetition .............................................................................. 85 D. Compensation .................................................................................................... 89 D.1 Pecuniary damage ............................................................................................ 89 D.2 Non-pecuniary damage ..................................................................................... 89 E. F. G. Costs and expenses ............................................................................................ 90 Reimbursement of expenses to the Victims’ Legal Assistance Fund ............................ 91 Method of complying with the payments ordered .................................................... 92 2