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substances and chemicals in the body, such as drug abuse and inhalation of smoke
or tear gas. For example, a toxicological exam may detect that white phosphorous
was used as an igniter when the wounds were produced. Without toxicology an
independent verification cannot be made on the type of weapons or agents that were
used during the assault or attack. For the forensic investigation, evidence such as
bullet cases or metal fragments, left behind after the attack, must also be collected
in order to provide key information on the attack and the person’s injuries. The
evidence collected should include fingerprints and the clothes of the dead persons.
Clothes are the most important evidence, because it is what prevents the gunpowder
and the smoke from coming into contact with the body. A forensic evaluation of a
body without access to its clothes is an insufficient evaluation. In the present case
several of these forensic analysis can no longer be performed due to the passing of
time: such as the analysis of the inmates’ clothes and the collection of air and gas
samples from the criminal center at the time of the attack.
Regarding the controversy on if “Operative Transfer 1” was an attack or if it was an
operation destined to controlling a riot in the prison, the expert carried out an
evaluation, which included: the type of weapons used, the seriousness of the wounds
caused to the prisoners, the number of prisoners killed, the number of serious
injuries, and the number of police officers and members of the army that were
injured or that died. Based on these circumstances he concluded that the event was
an attack and not an operative to control a riot in the prison. To reach said
conclusion he used as grounds the type of injuries suffered. Several of the prisoners
suffered strange injuries such as abrasions with fire weapons, injuries in their feet, in
their legs, in their extremities, and in other uncommon angles. Based on these
wounds, the fact that the prisoners had to dodge bullets fired at them is confirmed.
The forensic evidence also suggests that some prisoners died due to explosions and
burns. Likewise, the prisoners had wounds in their backs and extremities, consistent
with shots fired randomly and imprudently.
He also referred to the types of weapons used in prison. The most important
evidence available shows the use of weapons of attack and great speed against the
inmates. Specifically, there is evidence that suggests and backs 7.62-millimeter
rounds were fired against the prisoners. The weapons of great speed produce a great
amount of destruction in the tissues and a great number of internal wounds in the
body. Besides, these high-speed bullets with speeds that exceed 700-1000 meters
per second carry with them a great amount of kinetic energy, which tends to bounce
off its objective, causing even more damage. Those attack weapons of great speed
are usually used in wars, and not in a closed environment such as prisons.
2.
Thomas Wenzel, expert in psychological disorders in torture
survivors and in disorders due to posttraumatic stress
He referred to four important factors that can predict the development of long-term
consequences in victims: the exposure to extreme physical violence with which the
life and integrity of the people was threatened taking into account their severe
injuries; the exposure to long periods of physical traumas that develop severe
traumatic consequences; the complete loss of rules and social treatment that have a
very severe impact on the body’s psychological and biological systems; and the loss
of dignity and transfer of guilt in the victims.
The previous and subsequent factors to what occurred in the Criminal Center Castro
Castro can influence the long-term consequences, for example the lack of access to