Supreme Court upholds convictions of 14 military officers for kidnapping and murder of Eugenio Berríos
The Supreme Court ratified sentences against Chilean and Uruguayan military personnel for the death of the former DINA chemist. The family's civil claim was rejected.
Sentences of up to 15 years for military officers convicted of death of former DINA chemist
Chile's Supreme Court issued a final ruling in the case of Eugenio Berríos, former chemist for the National Intelligence Directorate (DINA), whose disappearance and death began in October 1991 in Chile and continued in Uruguay. According to latercera.com, the Second Criminal Chamber rejected the cassation appeals filed by the convicted parties and upheld the sentences imposed by the Santiago Court of Appeals for the offences of kidnapping, murder and unlawful association.
The ruling was split and composed of judges Milton Juica, Hugo Dolmestch, Carlos Künsemüller, Haroldo Brito and Lamberto Cisternas.
Convictions against Chilean military officers
Arturo Silva Valdés received the highest sentence: 15 years and one day as principal in kidnapping with murder, plus 5 years and one day for unlawful association, without benefits.
Hernán Ramírez Rurange was convicted to 10 years and one day for kidnapping and another 10 years and one day for unlawful association, being acquitted of the charge of obstruction of justice.
Jaime Torres Gacitúa, Manuel Provis Carrasco and Eugenio Covarrubias Valenzuela each received 10 years and one day for kidnapping and 5 years and one day for unlawful association, without benefits. Covarrubias was acquitted as accessory to kidnapping with murder and obstruction of justice.
Pablo Rodríguez Márquez, Raúl Lillo Gutiérrez, Marcelo Sandoval Durán and Nelson Román Vargas were convicted to 10 years and one day for kidnapping and 800 days for unlawful association, all without benefits. Lillo was acquitted of obstruction of justice; Sandoval and Román, of violation of article 295 bis of the Criminal Code.
Manuel Pérez Santillán received 5 years and one day as accomplice in kidnapping and was acquitted of the charge of unlawful association.
Fernando Torres Silva was convicted to 10 years and one day solely for unlawful association.
Uruguayan military officers also convicted
Three Uruguayan military officers charged in the case also had their convictions upheld. Tomás Casella Santos and Eduardo Radaelli Copolla received 10 years and one day for kidnapping; Casella also accumulated 5 years and one day for unlawful association, whilst Radaelli was convicted to 800 days for the same offence.
Wellington Sarli Pose was convicted to 5 years and one day as accomplice in kidnapping and to 60 days for unlawful association, without benefits.
Acquittals
The court acquitted Enrique Ibarra Chamorro of the charge of unlawful association. Mario Cisternas Orellana, Nelson Hernández Franco and Erika Silva Morales were acquitted of violation of article 295 bis of the Criminal Code. Emilio Rojas Gómez was acquitted of obstruction of justice.
Civil claim rejected
On the civil front, the Supreme Court upheld the cassation appeal filed by the Public Treasury and rejected the claim brought by Berríos' relatives, who sought compensation for the death of the victim.
Source: Google News CL — Santiago