103. On May 20, 1998, an order to include Major Jorge Alberto Lázaro Vergel to the “kidnapping and murder" investigation was issued. On June 4, 1998, the National Army captured Major Jorge Alberto Lázaro Vergel and he provided a deposition on June 5, 1998.166 On July 10, 1998, it was decided to issue an order for his "preventative detention on account of the investigation for aggravated homicide"; however, on the February 15, 1999, he was released "due to expiration of the time limit".167 104. On June 16, 1998, Roberto Prada Gamarra rendered his deposition. On July 18, 1998, Juan Francisco Prada Márquez was included in the investigation for murder and conspiracy to commit a crime. On July 19, 1998, an order was issued for the preventive detention of Roberto Prada Gamarra on account of the investigation on aggravated murder and conspiracy to commit a crime. On September 4, 1998, Juan Francisco Prada Márquez was formally considered to be in absentia in the proceedings. On March 4, 1999, an order was issued for the preventive detention of Juan Francisco Prada Márquez for aggravated murder and conspiracy to commit a crime.168 On April 3, 2000, a report from La Picota prison informed of the death in detention of "Roberto Prada Gamarra."169 105. On August 14, 2000, the results of the investigation merited "issuing charges against Juan Francisco Prada Márquez" for conspiracy to commit a crime and "the closing of the investigation against Juan Francisco Prada Márquez for murder and against Jorge Alberto Lázaro Vergel on all charges."170 On October 17, 2000, on account of his death, the investigation against Roberto Prada Gamarra was closed. On March 6, 2002, the First Specialized Criminal Court in Valledupar acquitted Juan Francisco Prada Márquez of conspiracy to commit a crime. On May 8, 2002, an order for the continuation of the preliminary investigation was issued.171 106. In May 2007, paramilitary leader Juan Francisco Prada Márquez alias "Juancho Prada" was demobilized with the paramilitary group he commanded in the southern region of the Department of Cesar, and he and the members of his group applied for the benefits of Law 975 of 2005.172 In May 2009, the Prosecutor submitted a report on the events.173 107. On August 17, 2010, Jaime Antonio Omeara Miraval declared before the Prosecutor that "the three deaths [...] are linked". He stated in particular that "the first one is my dad’s because unfortunately he fell in the attack against the Town Hall secretary and months later he died, then my brother started to investigate the men who shot my dad and then they killed my brother GUILLERMO for that reason and then, about a month after GUILLERMO’s body appeared, I don’t remember exactly when, they attacked Mr. HÉCTOR ÁLVAREZ who was my brother GUILLERMO’s father-in-law; in this attack he was left a quadriplegic and died 4 or 5 years after, I think.”174 108. On June 25, 2012, the National Justice and Peace Unit sent the National Human Rights Unit an attested copy of the voluntary testimony rendered by Juan Francisco Prada Márquez on June 24, 2010 which referred to the murder of Manuel Guillermo Omeara, in order to be included in case file of the State’s brief of August 8, 2014, received on August 11, 2014. State’s brief of August 8, 2014, received on August 11, 2014. 168 Information presented by the State in its brief of July 13, 2012 not contested by the petitioners. 166 167 State’s brief of August 8, 2014, received on August 11, 2014. State’s brief of August 8, 2014, received on August 11, 2014. 171 Information presented by the State in its brief of July 13, 2012 not contested by the petitioners. 169 170 172 Available at: http://www.verdadabierta.com/nunca-mas/678-perfil-de-juan-francisco-prada-marquez- Request No. 526 RP.015 F.66 of the National Human Rights Unit of October 20, 2009 of the National Human Rights Unit National Prosecutor’s Office Bucaramanga, case file No. 015 of the National Human Rights Unit - National Prosecutor’s Office Bucaramanga, folder No. 11, pp. 79 – 81. Annex No. 56 to the petitioners’ brief of November 10, 2010. 173 174 Deposition of Jaime Antonio Omeara Miraval of August 17, 2010, case file No. 015 of the National Human Rights Unit National Prosecutor’s Office Bucaramanga, folder No. 11, unpaginated document. Annex No. 42 to the petitioners’ brief of November 10, 2010. 28