Besides to the body, two 9 mm cartridge casings were found.” Said gun was not found to be registered in the
digital files and “its illegal possession and bearing is inferred”. As stated by the ballistic expert, “the two
cartridge casings were fired by said gun, and gunpowder residue was found in the bore of the barrel.”251
162.
In relation to the events that took place the evening of September 3, 1999, Mr. Ángel María
Noriega Gómez stated that he was with “Benigno Birueth, another Octavio García” and “Mrs. Leonor Gómez
and Arladys”252 and “approximately at 10pm”, “he was sitting in a shop in the Versalles neighborhood” when
he saw three men in bicycles and behind them two white Army trucks “three and a half.” He said that he
observed the military “shot a warning to the air and because of that one of the three men, the one in the front,
threw the bicycle to the side and stood with his arms up, so did the other two. He stated that then “the Army
trucks stopped and unloaded, seized the men and someone who was with him said that one of them was
beaten there as well, they made them get into the truck carrying their bicycles on it.” 253
163.
Mr. Ángel María Noriega Gómez said that when “two soldiers approached the shop where
they were sitting; he asked one of them, what is the scandal? He said that the soldier “did not want to
answer,” “he turned around and went to where he was being awaited to continue their way.” He said that
later the “truck passed by the side of the store” and he realized that it was carrying “two uniformed men with
black face masks.” He said that there were two White trucks when the young men were detained, one stayed
there with them and the other left.”254
164.
Mr. Ángel Noriega clarified that he observed the “three youth climbing into the army truck”
but he “did not recognize them.”255 He added “I am not saying that they are the same ones, only because of
the circumstances around the disappearance of the three young men, when they went out…that they were
riding bicycles, and the circumstances…I deducted…that perhaps they were the same than hopped into the
truck.”256
165.
In relation to this event, Mrs. Deysi Porras Ramírez noted that when she was “arriving at the
store” saw “a fast coming army truck, that was coming as chasing some youth that were riding bicycles and
the car was going towards them, even throwing one or two of them to the floor”. She stated that she went
back to her house and when she arrived the army truck “went by the entire front”. She pointed out that there
were about “two or three masked men in the truck” and that happened “between 9:30 or earlier than 10pm,
and the young men were barely seen as they were lying on the floor there.”257
251 The narrative accompanying this evidence is in: Annex. 81. 15th Office of the Military Criminal Prosecutor before the
Second Court of Second Division Brigades, investigation proceeding review, October 24, 2003. Annex 16 of the petitioners’ brief received
on December 6, 2010.
252 Annex. 82. Additional statement and ratification by Mr. Ángel María Noriega Gómez of September 2, 1995. Annex 7 of the
petitioners’ brief received on December 6, 2010.
253Annex. 83. Statement by Ángel María Noriega Gómez of September 21, 1995. Annex 7 of the petitioners’ brief received on
December 6, 2010. In the confirmation of his statement, Mr. Ángel Noriega said the same. To that respect, he indicated that he was with
his friends and one child, when all of a sudden they heard “a rifle shot.” At that moment, he turned “to see where was the shot coming
from” and he ��realized that three young men were coming by bicycle…one threw it, the one in front put his arms up, the other two
stopped before he did.” He said that one person with him observed “army member beating one of the youth” and “they were also
searching the surrounding area to see if the boys had thrown something around.” He stated that he saw that the young men “were placed
in the ‘three and a half’ white truck.” Annex. 82. Additional statement and ratification by Mr. Ángel María Noriega Gómez of September 2,
1995. Annex 7 of the petitioners’ brief received on December 6, 2010.
254 Annex. 82. Additional statement and ratification by Mr. Ángel María Noriega Gómez of September 2, 1995. Annex 7 of the
petitioners’ brief received on December 6, 2010.
255 Annex. 82. Additional statement and ratification by Mr. Ángel María Noriega Gómez of September 2, 1995. Annex 7 of the
petitioners’ brief received on December 6, 2010.
256 Annex. 82. Additional statement and ratification by Mr. Ángel María Noriega Gómez of September 2, 1995. Annex 7 of the
petitioners’ brief received on December 6, 2010.
257Annex. 84 Statement by Deysi Porras Ramírez before the 67th Unit on HR and IHL of April 28, 201. Annex to the petitioners’
brief received on March 14, 2012.