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Homicides On The Increase
The homicide rate in 2005 was
the highest in Costa Rica in the
last five years, a report by the
Organismo de Investigacion
Judicial (OIJ) - the Office of
Judicial Investigations -
revealed on Monday.
According to the official files,
there were 307 murders in the
country last year, 130 of which
took place in San José (the
capital), increasing the number
of victims by 32% in relation to
2004.
The violent-homicide rate was
6.2 per 1,000 inhabitants during
the 2000-2005 period, the Pan
American Health Organization (PAHO)
asserted for its part.
The murder rate reflects a trend
of growing violence, OIJ
director Francisco Segura said.
Fire arms were used in over half
the murders during 2005,
although the criminals generally
used them for other crimes as
holdups, he added.
A study by OIJ´s Plans and
Operations Department indicates
that there were 14 more
homicides each month from March
to April, compared to the same
period in 2004.
Only the attack to the Costa
Rican National Bank on March 8,
in Monteverde, Puntarenas, on
the Pacific coast, caused nine
fatal victims.
However, the month with more
murders was January, 2005, when
the judicial authorities counted
25 victims.
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