COSTA RICA NEWS — It’s been one year and five months since the murder of environmentalist Jairo Mora Sandoval. This morning, seven stand accused of the crime in a trial that begins at 8:00am in the Tribunal de Juicio de Limón (Limon Criminal Court).
The seven accused are identified by their last names, the brothers (2) Salmón, Rivas, Martínez, Cubillo, López and Delgado.
A total of 26 witnesses will be called testify of the brutal attack that took place on May 31, 2013, in the dark and remote area of Barra Matina.
Mora was an undisputed champion of turtle conservation. He was also critical of authorities. “If a coast guard or police official say they support us, they are lying,” Mora was quoted as saying in April 2013.
According to the prosecution, Mora was clubbed repeatedly with injuries to seven different parts of his body. He was tied to a vehicle and dragged through the beach, causing asphyxia by suffocation. The autopsy revealed traces of sand in the mouth, nose, upper airway, esophagus and stomach.
Four women, who were on tour with Mora, were more fortunate, they were able to get away with their lives. The women were taken to an abandoned house hear the railway, were they were robbed and sexually assaulted.
The investigation revealed that Jairo Mora was murdered because he knew his attackers and could identify them.
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