HR group gets conviction for summary execution ... PM gets 15 years

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, May 15, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The courts have sentenced Metropolitan Police (PM) officer, Williams Alexander Arvelo to 15 years imprisonment for killing Carlos Jose Rodriguez (17) on September 15, 2002. 

Human rights Red de Apoyo group has been helping Carlos Jose's father, Carlos to get justice. Rodriguez recalls that his son was at the corner of their house in San Jose de Cotiza when he received a bullet that ended his life. 

Police officials attempted to cover up the crime, alleging the youth died as  the result of a shootout with the police. Unfortunately for the police, neighbors witnessed the killing and kept to their story, despite harassment and threats from the police during an oral hearing. 

Red de Apoyo coordinator, Laura Roldan says the family kept faith and ended a three-year state of impunity... "PM action was disproportionate ... firearms must only be used to protect life and as a last recourse in extreme situations." 

The HR group is asking the PM General Inspectorate to investigate the actions of other police officers that evening, who helped cover up the murder, even though they were let off by the judge.