In a historic ruling, but absolutely late as it was made 50 years after the atrocities, the Supreme Court of Chile has condemned a group of retired police officers for their participation in the crimes of aggravated homicide of several forestry workers in September 1973. This The sentence, which comes decades after the crimes committed in the communes of Laja and San Rosendo in the Biobío Region, marks an important step towards truth and justice for the victims and their families.
The Second Chamber of the highest court, in a unanimous ruling, partially invalidated the sentence of the Court of Appeals of Concepción, which had convicted a civilian as an accomplice to the homicides. However, it maintained the sentences for seven police officers as perpetrators of the 19 qualified homicides. In addition, an individual was sentenced as an accessory to the crimes.
The Supreme Court convicted a group of retired police officers for their responsibility in the crimes of qualified homicide of forestry workers Fernando Grandón Gálvez, Jorge Andrés Lamana Abarzúa, Rubén Antonio Campos López, Juan Carlos Jara Herrera, Raúl Urra Parada, Luis Armando Ulloa Valenzuela , Óscar Omar Sanhueza Contreras, Dagoberto Enrique Garfias Gatica, Luis Alberto del Carmen Araneda Reyes, Juan Antonio Acuña Concha, Juan de Dios Villarroel Espinoza, Heraldo del Carmen Muñoz Muñoz, Federico Riquelme Concha, Jorge Lautaro Zorrilla Rubio, Manuel Mario Becerra Avello, Jack Eduardo Gutiérrez Rodríguez, Mario Jara Jara, Wilson Gamadiel Muñoz Rodríguez and Alfonso Segundo Macaya Barrales. Illegal acts perpetrated in September 1973 in the communes of Laja and San Rosendo, Biobío Region.
In a unanimous ruling (case role 82.317-2021), the Second Chamber of the highest court – made up of Minister Manuel Antonio Valderrama, Ministers María Soledad Melo, María Loreto Gutiérrez, lawyer (i) Pía Tavolari and lawyer (i) Ricardo Abuauad – partially invalidated the contested sentence, issued by the Court of Appeals of Concepción, in the part that sentenced the civilian Pedro Luis Jarpa Foerster to 5 years and one day in prison, as an accomplice in the murders of Fernando Grandón Gálvez, Jack Gutiérrez Rodríguez , Heraldo Muñoz Muñoz, Raúl Urra Parada, Federico Riquelme Concha, Juan Villarroel Espinoza and Wilson Muñoz Rodríguez and, consequently, his acquittal was decreed as the responsibility attributed to the crimes was not proven.
In the rest, the highest court maintained the sentence that sentenced José Jacinto Otárola Sanhueza, Mario Sebastián Montoya Burgos, Manuel Enrique Cerda Robledo, Gerson Nilo Saavedra Reinike, Pedro del Carmen Parra Utreras, Víctor Manuel Campos Dávila and Nelson Casanova Salgado to 15 years and one day in prison, as perpetrators of the 19 aggravated homicides.
The Supreme Court ruling established a legal error in the civilian’s conviction, pointing out that it had not been extended in the manner provided by law and that the attributed facts had not been sufficiently proven. This ruling highlights the importance of ensuring due process and the presumption of innocence, even in landmark cases like this one.
The Court’s ruling also highlighted the responsibility of the convicted carabineros, who acted without a court order in a context of state of siege after the military coup of 1973. It was noted that the carabineros carried out the homicides with full knowledge of the consequences of their actions. , which constituted eventual fraud.
The Supreme Court’s decision is a reminder of the importance of historical memory and the fight for truth and justice. Although it comes decades after the crimes, this sentence sends a clear message that crimes against humanity do not go unpunished, and that the State has the obligation to investigate and punish those responsible, no matter how much time has passed.
For the families of the victims and for Chilean society as a whole, this conviction represents a crucial step towards closing deep wounds caused by decades of impunity. However, it is also a reminder that much remains to be done to ensure that these crimes are not repeated and that the human rights of all citizens are respected, at all times and in all circumstances.
