The appeal hearing for three military men and a priest began here Wednesday in the case of the murdered human-rights defender.
In June 2001, a court found retired Colonel Byron Lima Estrada; his son, Captain Byron Lima Oliva; and Sergeant Obdulio Villanueva guilty of the bishop’s murder and sentenced them to 30 years in prison.
Father Mario Orantes, Bishop Gerardi’s assistant, was found guilty of complicity and drew a 25-year sentence.
A court decision on the appeals is expected Oct. 8.
Bishop Gerardi, 75, who headed the Human Rights Office in Guatemala City, was bludgeoned with a concrete block on April 26, 1998. Two days earlier he had presented a report which blamed the army for most of the 200,000 deaths during Guatemala’s decades-long civil war.
Representatives of the archdiocese’s Human Rights Office requested that the prison sentences be upheld. The hearing attracted observers of international organizations, diplomats and human rights activists.
