This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7389430.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Colombia massacre troops jailed | Colombia massacre troops jailed |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Colombian army colonel and 14 other soldiers have received prison sentences of up to 54 years for the killing of 10 undercover police officers in 2006. | A Colombian army colonel and 14 other soldiers have received prison sentences of up to 54 years for the killing of 10 undercover police officers in 2006. |
Former Lt Col Bayron Carvajal was given 54 years for ordering the ambush near the southern town of Jamundi. | |
The police were lured to a medical centre by an informant who told them there was cocaine hidden there. | The police were lured to a medical centre by an informant who told them there was cocaine hidden there. |
When the undercover officers arrived, they and the informant were shot dead. No drugs were ever found. | When the undercover officers arrived, they and the informant were shot dead. No drugs were ever found. |
Carvajal, who was not at the scene of the massacre, said he thought his troops were attacking leftist rebels who were working with drug traffickers. | Carvajal, who was not at the scene of the massacre, said he thought his troops were attacking leftist rebels who were working with drug traffickers. |
Officials said inquiries suggested links between Carvajal's troops and drug gangs operating in the region. | Officials said inquiries suggested links between Carvajal's troops and drug gangs operating in the region. |
Elite unit | Elite unit |
At Wednesday's hearing in Cali, some of the defendant's relatives broke into sobs when the sentences were read out, the Associated Press news agency reported. | At Wednesday's hearing in Cali, some of the defendant's relatives broke into sobs when the sentences were read out, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
Carvajal's second-in-command, former Lt Harrison Castro, was sentenced to 52 years.The incident was initially thought to be a friendly fire accident | Carvajal's second-in-command, former Lt Harrison Castro, was sentenced to 52 years.The incident was initially thought to be a friendly fire accident |
The other soldiers involved were each given 50 years. | The other soldiers involved were each given 50 years. |
Prosecutors had called for the maximum of 60 years in prison for the convicted soldiers. | Prosecutors had called for the maximum of 60 years in prison for the convicted soldiers. |
The dead officers belonged to an elite unit of Colombia's judicial investigative police, and had trained in the US. | The dead officers belonged to an elite unit of Colombia's judicial investigative police, and had trained in the US. |
A long-running conflict in Colombia - the world's largest cocaine producer - between leftist rebels, security forces and right-wing militias has left tens of thousands of people dead. | A long-running conflict in Colombia - the world's largest cocaine producer - between leftist rebels, security forces and right-wing militias has left tens of thousands of people dead. |
Previous version
1
Next version