Gunman at Venezuelan Rally Convicted

Posted on Tue, Apr. 15, 2003 Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela - A Venezuelan court on Monday convicted a man of killing three people at an opposition rally last year.

The court found Joao de Gouveia guilty of premeditated homicide and sentenced him to 30 years in prison, prosecutor Carlos Bastidas said.

Hundreds of people at an opposition rally were listening to a speech on the night of Dec. 6, 2002, when de Gouveia opened fire, killing three people and wounding 28 others. De Gouveia admitted to the crime.

The killings fueled political tensions between allies and adversaries of President Hugo Chavez on the fourth day of a crippling national strike aimed at forcing Chavez to step down or call early elections.

Nine Venezuelans were killed during the two-month strike, which failed to oust Chavez as opposition leaders had planned.

Gouveia, 39, a Portuguese citizen who has lived in Venezuela for more than 20 years, has five days to appeal the conviction.