35 37) Wilmer Benjamín Gómez-Vásquez (victim).- He was 22 years old at the time of death.119 60(27) After they heard about the incidents at Detention Center of Catia, a large number of prisoners’ next of kin rushed to the premises in order to get information about the fate of their love ones. From the early morning hours of November 27, 1992, prisoners' next of kin, mostly women, thronged the prison’s entrance trying to find out what happened, and the Metropolitan Police fired tear gas to keep them away. In light of the authorities’ refusal to provide information, the next of kin of inmates decided to stay outside the penitentiary facility. This way, they could communicate with the prisoners that were inside, who were crying for help claiming that they were being killed by the authorities. 60(28) The persons who died in the incidents were transferred to different forensic facilities of the Judicial Technical Police, located in the cities of Caracas, Los Teques and La Guaria. The families of the missing prisoners visited the aforesaid facilities, who encountered great difficulty locating and identifying their relatives. After several days, some of them were able to locate the body of their relatives; however, others have continued efforts to try to find the bodies of their love ones, as is the case with the families of José León Ayala-Gualdrón and Edgar José Peña-Marín. 60(29) The steps taken by the Venezuelan authorities during the investigation of the events have been insufficient to uncover the historical truth, establish liability and convict those responsible for the massacre at Detention Center of Catia. Initially, the investigation was hindered by the law enforcement force and prison authorities’ lack of cooperation in the collection and preservation of vital evidence. At a later stage, the court authorities in charge of conducting the investigation were negligent in fulfilling their duties and delivering concrete results. f) Proceedings before Ordinary Courts 60(30) On November 30, 1992 the Juzgado Vigésimo Noveno de Primera Instancia en lo Penal y de Salvaguarda del Patrimonio Público de la Circunscripción Judicial del Distrito Federal y Estado Miranda (29th Trial Court in Criminal and Protection of Public Heritage Matters in and for the Judicial District of the Federal District and Miranda State) (hereinafter, the “29th Court”) instituted a summary investigation, pursuant to the Código de Enjuiciamiento Criminal (Code of Criminal Procedure) (hereinafter, the “CEC”), in force at the time, regarding the crimes committed against persons, to the detriment of the prisoners of Detention Center of Catia. 60(31) The 101st, 93rd and 101st prosecutors of the Public Prosecutor´s Office requested a series of measures. Thus, the Public Prosecutor´s Office instituted and attempted to pursue an investigation, but it was hindered by the police and prison authorities’ lack of cooperation. The information requested was provided in an untimely and incomplete fashion by the law enforcement forces involved in the events. Furthermore, the lack of cooperation on the part of the law enforcement force and prison authorities was evidenced by the repeated negligence in complying with court summonses and orders directing the production of evidence. The National 119 Cf. copy of the death record (record of the merits, reparations and costs, Volume II, page 404).

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