Article by PBI-Canada
On February 24, PBI-Honduras posted: “We are awaiting the resolution of the hearing to propose evidence against #DavidCastillo, the alleged intellectual co-author of the murder of #BertaCáceres and we recall the need for this resolution to adhere to international standards.”
Castillo is a US-trained ex-intelligence officer and a former executive at DESA, the company behind the building of the Agua Zarca dam that Caceres opposed.
COPINH had posted: “This Thursday, February 25th Court will release its resolution on the evidence used in the trial against David Castillo coauthor of crime #BertaCáceres. We keep demanding #JusticeForBerta.”
This evening (February 25), COPINH updates: “Reschedule hearing that the evidence to be used in the trial against David Castillo, co-author of crime of #BertaCáceres for March 1 at 2:00 pm. The evidence against him is forceful and cannot be dismissed for justice. The Court proposed that it be continued tomorrow Friday, the Public Ministry and private accusations agreed, but the defense insisted that it be done next week.”
Bertha Zúñiga, Berta’s daughter and the general coordinator of COPINH, has commented: “We hope that the court will admit the evidence proposed by the legal representation of the victims, which together with those of the MP [Public Ministry] add up to 88 means of evidence.”
She adds: “It is not only about seeing the events of March 2, 2016, when my mother was murdered but to contextualize them in the situation of systematic attacks, persecution, and harassment experienced by her.”
Along with determining what evidence can be admitted, this hearing is expected to set the date for the beginning of the trial for Castillo.
The Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project began accompanying the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) in May 2016, three months after the murder of COPINH co-founder Berta Cáceres.
#5AñosJuntoABerta
Video: On March 8, 2016, people gathered in front of the Embassy of Honduras in Canada to demand justice days after the murder of Cáceres.
