Mauricio's case was only against Vides because Garcia had retired by the time Mauricio was detained and tortured in June 1983.
During a four-week trial that began on June 24 the plaintiffs told of being detained and tortured by Salvadoran national guardsmen and police under the command of the two generals. The jury began deliberations on Thursday afternoon, and deliberated for a total of some 20 hours.
In addition to receiving electric shocks and other forms of brutal torture, Romagoza had been shot in the arm and suspended from his fingers so
During a four-week trial that began on June 24 the plaintiffs told of being detained and tortured by Salvadoran national guardsmen and police under the command of the two generals. The jury began deliberations on Thursday afternoon, and deliberated for a total of some 20 hours.
In addition to receiving electric shocks and other forms of brutal torture, Romagoza had been shot in the arm and suspended from his fingers so
as to damage his hands and thus ensure that he would never be able to perform surgery again.
Gonzalez, who was eight months pregnant at the time she was tortured, was raped and stomped on. Her son died two months after birth as a result of the injuries. She was forced to watch the torture and execution of another prisoner and drink his blood, and was left for dead by the national guardsmen.
Mauricio was subjected to horrific beatings and was strung up with his hands over his head for long periods of time.
Gonzalez, who was eight months pregnant at the time she was tortured, was raped and stomped on. Her son died two months after birth as a result of the injuries. She was forced to watch the torture and execution of another prisoner and drink his blood, and was left for dead by the national guardsmen.
Mauricio was subjected to horrific beatings and was strung up with his hands over his head for long periods of time.
The case is one of the few cases since the Tokyo trials following World War II in which a foreign commander has been held liable under the doctrine of command responsibility for war crimes committed by his troops.
(This is in addition to the ad hoc tribunals established by the United Nations for war crimes in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.)
"This case sets an important precedent that commanders can be held responsible when they should know that their subordinates are torturing and killing civilians, and they give a green light for such abuses to continue by doing nothing to
(This is in addition to the ad hoc tribunals established by the United Nations for war crimes in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.)
"This case sets an important precedent that commanders can be held responsible when they should know that their subordinates are torturing and killing civilians, and they give a green light for such abuses to continue by doing nothing to