MASSACRE IN MONTEVERDE:
One Year Preventive Detention
Erlin Hurtado Martinéz will be spending
the next year behind bars as the Fiscalía (Prosecutor's office) puts together
the pieces of the puzzle in the Santa Elena de Monteverde failed bank robbery
that resulted in nine dead and dozens wounded.
The Juzgado Penal de Puntarenas ordered Hurtado to 12 months behind bars,
charged with seven counts of murder, 28 counts of kidnapping and attempted
robbery of the branch of the Banco Nacionla de Monterverde. Those are the
charges against him for now, more could come later.
The decision by the court came on the petition by the Ministerio Público which
has more than sufficient evidence against the man.
Hurtado was transferred from Puntarenas to the La Reforma prison to be held
under maximum security. The Puntarenas jail doesn't count with a maximum
security holding facility, fearing reprisals against the man while in jail.
Hurtado has maintained his silence in front of the television cameras and
reporters who were allowed close to him.
Hurtado, if he sentenced to the maximum penalty for each of the counts he is
being charged with, could see a sentence of 645 years.
One judicial official who remained nameless told local television news Repretel
that Hurtado was unmoved during his interrogation and that he will be spending
the rest of his life in jail. The 26 year old Nicaraguan man told investigators
that, the way the courts work in Costa Rica, he will probably be out in eight
years.
A Day of Mourning in
Monteverde
Costa Rican Nancy Ramirez, who was released
by the hostages minutes before police stormed
the bank, is seen at a funeral for two of the victims.
[Foto: AL Dia/Erick Cordoba]
Elizabeth Artavia, 30, the
last hostage freed by
Erlin Hurtado Martinéz. Artavia gained the
confidence Erlin and convinced him he
should give himself up, ending the 28 hour
ordeal. [Foto: AL Dia/Erick Cordoba]
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The eyes of a killer. Erlin
Hurtado Martinéz is charged with seven counts of murder, 8 counts of
kidnapping and the attempted robbery of the Banco Nacional de
Monteverde. A Puntarenas court order 12 months of preventive
detention against the man that could face 645 years in jail if
convicted on all counts.
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