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Alert

Trial in José Luis Cabezas case begins

(PFC/IFEX) - On Tuesday 14 December 1999, the examination into the assassination of news photographer José Luis Cabezas will begin at 9:30 a.m. (local time). Three judges from the Dolores Court of Appeals will begin to hear the testimonies of 600 witnesses, with the intention of reaching a verdict before 25 January 2000, the third anniversary of the crime.

Despite having discarded more than 400 witnesses, judges Pedro Begué, Jorge Dupuy and Susana Yaltone will have to hear the testimonies of thirty witnesses a day in order to finish before 25 January. Nevertheless, the beginning of the trial could be delayed if the Supreme Court accepts the motion put forth by the lawyers of several of the accused. According to the newspaper "Página/12", on Monday 13 December the defendants will present a request that the judges be changed, because the same tribunal led the investigation into the crime, which is prohibited in the Constitution.

The plea of the three defendants can be interpreted in two ways: as a claim for fair judiciary conditions, or as an attempt to delay the beginning of the trial. If the Dolores tribunal does not reach a verdict before 25 April 2000, the accused would retain their freedom due to the fact that they will have spent three years in prison without being sentenced.

Gregorio Ríos, former guard for businessman Alfredo Yabrán, is the alleged instigator of the assassination; former police officer Bonaerense Gustavo Prellezo is accused of co-authoring and organising the crime; Sergio González and Horacio Braga, two of the four thieves known as "the bakers", are accused of authoring the assassination; and former police officers Aníbal Luna and Sergio Camaratta are accused of being primary perpetrators. Lawyer Analía Avalos has asked that all six be sentenced to life imprisonment. Luis Auge and Héctor Retana, the other two "bakers", are accused of co-perpetrating the crime, and because they are contesting a life sentence, might be set free within twenty years. Former police officer Silvia Belawsky and police informer Carlos Redruello are accused of being secondary accomplices. The lawyer has asked that they be sentenced to eighteen years imprisonment.