Monteverde Masacre Perpetrator Accepts Charges and Waives Trial For a Reduced Sentence
Erlyn Hurtado, the only living assailant of the Banco Nacional massacre last year in Monteverde, accepted the charges against him by the Fiscalía (prosecutor) in exchange for a reduced sentence.

The deal was presented by defence lawyers and the prosecutor to a judge of the Juzgado Penal de Puntarenas, who has yet to render a decision.

Hurtado is charged with murder, robbery, extortion and kidnapping in the events of March 8, 2005, in the small town of Monteverde, when with two of his brothers, who died on the scene, tried to rob the local branch of the Banco Nacional.

Seven people, bank employees and customers, also died in the assault on the bank that day.

"Our interest is to speed up the process by accepting the charges and avoid the victims and their families to relive the event and emotions. There will be no need to make statements or be interrogated on the stand in a public trial", said Rándall Peraza and Alexis Hernández, the two defense lawyers assigned to the case.

In total, 22 victims (including the seven that died during the event) would have been called to relive their horror of that day and who are now asking for compensation of some ¢1.7 billion colones. Along with Hurtado, the Banco Nacional and the security company hired by the bank are named in the compensation action.

William Guido, lawyer for a group of 12 victims, is agains the abbreviated process, wanting a full trial, which would publicly disclose exactly what happened that day; detailing the actions of the accused and the police.