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| Six Killed in Guatemala Prison Riot |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 02/13/2003 |
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A bloody prison riot Wednesday near Guatemala City left at least six inmates dead, and a lawyer said a man convicted in the high-profile murder case of Roman Catholic Bishop Juan Gerardi was among the dead. Four of the victims were decapitated, police spokesman Faustino Sanchez said. Police struggled before firing tear gas into the prison yard to retake the facility after four hours of rioting. Sanchez said the riots left at least six inmates dead and about 15 prisoners wounded. Attorney Julio Echeverria said Obdulio Villanueva, who was convicted in the Gerardi case, was killed in the melee - but officials could not immediately confirm that. Villanueva, who had been a sergeant in the presidential guard, was one of three military officials sentenced to 30 years in prison for the April 26, 1998, bludgeoning death of Gerardi, the head of the church's local human rights office. Gerardi was killed after releasing a report blaming the military for human rights abuses. 'It's a situation of chaos in there,' said firefighter Johan Ordonez as he left the prison amid tear gas. Occasional shots or explosions were heard coming from the facility. Echeverria said another man convicted in the Gerardi case, Capt. Byron Lima, told him 'that various persons brought arms into the detention center with the intention of killing them.' An appeals court in October had tentatively annulled the June 2001 guilty verdicts and ordered a new trial for the men. A higher court was reviewing the case. |
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