Salvadoran Supreme Court refuses to detain men charged in 1989 killings of Jesuit priests

[Judi Lynn]

Salvadoran Supreme Court refuses to detain men charged in 1989 killings of Jesuit priests
By Associated Press, Updated: Wednesday, August 24, 7:54 PM

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — El Salvador’s Supreme Court refused to order the detention of nine former military officers indicted in Spain for the 1989 slayings of six Jesuit priests during the Central American country’s 1980-1992 civil war.

The court ruled that no formal extradition request has been received from Spain. The ex-officers turned themselves in voluntarily in early August at a military base, but are not under detention.

The court has said it would consider an extradition request if one were received. But at present, all that is pending against the men in El Salvador is an Interpol request that they be located, something that has already been accomplished.

“The supreme court cannot deliberate on whether it will decree the detention (of the men) or not, because Spain has not requested it,” Justice Ulises De Dios Guzman told the government-run Radio Nacional station.

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/salvadoran-supreme-court-refuses-to-detain-men-charged-in-1989-killings-of-jesuit-priests/2011/08/24/gIQAPApOcJ_story.html?wprss=rss_americas

[Judi Lynn]

1. Ex-Salvador soldiers free in priest slaying case

August 26, 2011 6:05 PM
Ex-Salvador soldiers free in priest slaying case

(AP) SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Nine former Salvadoran military officers indicted by Spain in the 1989 killings of six Jesuit priests in the Central American nation have left the barracks where they took refuge.

El Salvador's Supreme Court ruled earlier this week that the men could not be detained because it did not receive a formal extradition request from Spain.

A Spanish judge issued an arrest warrant for the ex-soldiers through Interpol in May.

Five of the priests slain during El Salvador's civil war were Spanish. The sixth was Salvadoran.

More:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/26/ap/latinamerica/main20098069.shtml