Monday, August 5, 2024, hearing 59

The anthropologist Rodolfo Leyva was present to ratify several social anthropology expert reports in which testimonies were collected from survivors in order to identify their relatives. The expert explained that the interviews with the survivors are filed in the FAFG and are included in the reports that are delivered to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Referring to the expert report FAFG # 1061 dated 2010, he indicated that in this report testimonies were compiled that tell how elements of the army killed 2 community members in a river near Santa María Nebaj in 1982. The remains were identified as Nicolás Rivera Raymundo and Francisco Maton Raymundo, whose skeletons were found in different graves.

Regarding the expert report FAFG #1094 dated 2010, the expert said that it compiled information detailing that on February 16, 1982, Elena Lorenzo Brito and her daughter, from the village of Palob, Nebaj, Quiché, were killed by elements of the army with a knife. Both victims were buried and it was at the time of exhumation that the causes of death were determined. Both mother and daughter were wearing traditional Ixil clothing.

The second expert witness to present was Rony Estuardo, an expert in forensic archaeology who worked for CAFCA.

With respect to the expert’s report on the massacre by elements of the army on February 25, 1982 in Pexla Grande, municipality of Nebaj, Quiché, the expert indicated that 25 bones were recovered, including men, women, children and fetuses. He emphasized that the first layer of skeletons showed traces of post mortem burns.

Referring to the expert’s report on the exhumation of the victims Elena Caba and her son, the expert explained that according to the information gathered, Mrs. Caba and her son were captured by the army when they were returning from working on their harvest. Both were wounded with machetes, Mrs. Caba was hanged from a tree outside her house and the boy was killed inside her home in February 1982. He explained that in the skeleton of the child a fracture in the neck could be identified, which could be the cause of death. He indicated that first the child and then his mother were thrown into the grave.

Wednesday, August 7, hearing 60

The expert Omar Bertoni Girón, specialist in genetic analysis and human identification, was presented. On his first day, the expert witness ratified 4 blocks of expert reports. The 1st block had 8 expert reports made in October 2013 referring to the Xecax Canton massacre, on February 8, 1982. In this work, 21 skeletons were exhumed, which showed signs of having been exposed to fire and perforations from firearms.

In the 2nd block, the expert ratified 4 expert reports carried out in December 2012 and related to the Estrella Polar massacres of March 22 and 23, 1982. The expert reported that 4 graves were exhumed and more than 70 bones were recovered, of which only 15 were identified.

In the 3rd block, the expert witness ratified 4 expert reports on the exhumation of 4 graves located in the military detachment of Xolusinay, Cotzal, Quiché. In each of the graves 4 victims were found. Only 3 of them could be identified and it was determined that the cause of death of all the victims was by firearm impact.

From the 4th block, 1 expert report was ratified corresponding to the exhumation of 5 skeletons related to the events of February 20, 1982 in Quisis, Cotzal, Quiché. Only 1 of the bodies was found in a grave, the other 4 were in a cave with indications that they were tied up. All the victims had gunshot wounds.

Thursday, August 8, hearing 61

The expert Omar Bertoni Girón appeared for the second day to ratify several expert reports and detailed the identification findings in different graves that were within the perimeter occupied by the military detachment of Xolusinay in San Juan Cotzal, Quiché:

  • 5 victims who could be identified and were abducted by army elements between January and February 1982; 4 other unidentified skeletons were found.
  • 4 victims were exhumed, according to testimonies, the victims were kidnapped by the army on February 4, 1982.
  •  5 skeletons were found, but only 1 could be identified. It is known that the identified victim was kidnapped by elements of the army in February 1982 thanks to the testimony of his brother.

Friday, August 9, hearing 62

The expert Omar Girón continued to ratify two blocks of expert reports. In the first block the exhumations of 9 victims were ratified; out of 12 that were found in the grave. This was located inside the old Xolusinay detachment, municipality of Cotzal, department of Quiché. From the testimonies of the family members, it was possible to identify the 9 victims and to confirm that they were kidnapped by the Guatemalan army and taken to the detachment between January and February 1982. The 9 victims presented traumas caused by blows, gunshot wounds and a gunshot to the skull.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Lucas Garcia’s defense made a protest arguing that the expert witness answered questions formulated during the interrogation with information that is not in the expert’s report.

​​This update is based on court observation and information from Verdad y Justicia