April 11 victim's father to appeal court sentence freeing Llaguno Bridge shooters

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, April 03, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Mohamed Mehri says he will appeal the sentence freeing the Llaguno Bridge Four at the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ). Mehri, whose son was one of the April 11 victims, has already been to the Inter American Human Rights Commission (IAHR) to lodge a complaint against President Hugo Chavez Frias. 

"The latest appeal will reach the TSJ where it seems that each TSJ decision is in line with the government's interests ... we are preparing international actions and approaching the International Tribunal of Justice  where there is no such thing as impunity." 

• Mehri says he expects the Llaguno Bridge case will end with a presidential pardon ... "the National Executive wants to turn the shooters into heroes."  

Lawyer Gonzalo Himiob, who unsuccessfully tried to bring a lawsuit in Spain  against Chavez Frias for crimes against humanity,  argues that the sentence is politically and legally incorrect and sends a clear message to government supporters that they have State support to use violence. 

Colleague Alfredo Romero complains that families of opposition lawyers have received threats.