Posada and the two "acquittals"
An update on my previous post about Posada. The Venezuela Information Office (funded by the Venezuelan government) is reporting in its June 23 Venezuela Weekly News & Action email that the two supposed acquittals of Posada are misleading. An excerpt:
On August 25, 1977, Posada and three other men were charged with treason and referred to a military tribunal. The military court quickly absolved them.
* Later, however, the Military Court of Appeals ruled that as a civilian crime, the military court had never had jurisdiction. The acquittal was nullified and the record of the case was void. From a legal standpoint, the military trial never happened.
* The men were then charged with aggravated homicide and treason before a civilian court, yet Posada escaped from his prison cell the day before a verdict was to be announced. Under Venezuelan law, a judicial proceeding cannot move forward without the presence of the accused, and so a verdict has never been reached in his case. Posada remained a fugitive until he was detained in Miami last month.
On August 25, 1977, Posada and three other men were charged with treason and referred to a military tribunal. The military court quickly absolved them.
* Later, however, the Military Court of Appeals ruled that as a civilian crime, the military court had never had jurisdiction. The acquittal was nullified and the record of the case was void. From a legal standpoint, the military trial never happened.
* The men were then charged with aggravated homicide and treason before a civilian court, yet Posada escaped from his prison cell the day before a verdict was to be announced. Under Venezuelan law, a judicial proceeding cannot move forward without the presence of the accused, and so a verdict has never been reached in his case. Posada remained a fugitive until he was detained in Miami last month.
posted by Steve Fake at 6/27/2005 04:56:00 PM
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