Man who chopped off police officer’s arm with machete sentenced to 35 years

April 5^th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com)  A 50 year-old man was sentenced yesterday by the Criminal Court of San Carlos, Alajuela, to 35 years in prison for chopping off the arm of a Fuerza Publica police officer with a machete.

The attack occurred in Upala, where the suspect, Ivan Hernandez Espinoza, lived with his wife and son, on November 25^th, 2011.

That day, police officer Reynaldo Garcia Picado, 42, and two other officers responded to a domestic violence call at the family’s home, after the man’s wife claimed that her husband threatened her and her son.

Garcia entered the home while the other two officers stood guard outside.  At some point while in the home, Hernandez attacked Garcia with a machete, amputating his arm.

During the trial, Garcia said he felt lucky to be alive, and believes the man’s intention was to kill him.

Judges found the man guilty of attempted murder, for which they sentenced him to 30 years.

He was sentenced to an additional 5 years for threats against his family and aggravated resistance.

Judges also gave the man a fine of 84 million colones.