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Alert

State attorney identifies journalist's murderer, but family has doubts about the investigation

(CEPET/IFEX) - The Guerrero State Attorney's Office has identified Alberto Bravo Jerónimo as the mastermind behind the 29 January 2010 murder of Jorge Alberto Ochoa Jiménez, director of "El Sol de la Costa", which took place in the municipality of Ayutla de los Libres.

In the press conference, Albertico Guinto Sierra, head of the state attorney's office, said that the alleged killer was apprehended at 5:00 a.m. on 16 March, when he was on his way home to the community of Tlalapa, in Ayutla, according to preliminary investigations.

He explained that on the day of the murder, at approximately 10 p.m., Bravo Jerónimo was driving his taxi in the city centre. When he got to the intersection of Vicente Luna and Francisco Javier Mina, he saw Ochoa Jiménez's car in front of him, obstructing the way. This led to an argument between the two men.

According to the accused's statement, there had previously been some friction between him and Ochoa Jiménez, who had apparently previously threatened to kill him (while under the influence of alcohol). For this reason, Bravo Jerónimo had begun to carry a .38 caliber pistol, which he used on that night.

Guinto Sierra said that the detention was the result of various experts' analyses of toxicology, forensic photography and ballistics, which lead them to conclude that Bravo Jerónimo's gun was the one used to kill Ochoa Jiménez.

However, when the authorities revealed their findings, María del Carmen Castro, Ochoa Jiménez's widow, asked Bravo Jerónimo to clarify the motive for killing her husband. "He was overbearing and arrogant; that is why I assaulted him", Bravo Jerónimo told Castro.

Castro questioned the results of the investigation, saying that her husband was killed for his work and mentioned that he had received threats, which the Attorney's Office had been informed of. "He got threats on his cell phone telling him to leave Ayutla".

She said Bravo Jerónimo is being used as a scapegoat by the state attorney's office.

"I am not satisfied. This is a lie. I want a serious investigation, because the murder was connected to politics or his work. He is under pressure from the media, said Castro in an interview.