Chilean Supreme Court Ends Hearing on Pinochet CaseThe Chilean Supreme Court ended two days of closed hearings on The Augusto Pinochet case Tuesday, December 19.The decision to uphold or drop homicide and kidnapping charges against the former Chilean leader will be announced on Wednesday or Thursday, the local news agency "Orbe" reported. Meanwhile, Santiago's First Hall of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that medical tests to determine whether Pinochet is fit to stand trail will be conducted at the Santiago Military Hospital. The decision cannot be appealed before the Supreme Court, the report said. Ambrosio Rodriguez, defense lawyer for Pinochet, appeared satisfied with the arrangements, since the Military Hospital is where Pinochet's clinical records are kept. Opponents had asked that he be examined at a public university hospital, claiming a military bias in favor of the former top military leader. On December 1, judge Juan Guzman ordered Pinochet placed under house arrest for activities related to the "caravan of death," a military party that executed 77 political prisoners following the 1973 military coup in which Pinochet overturned former Chilean President Salvador Allende. The charges however were dropped last week by an appeals court. Pinochet's lawyer insisted the indictment was illegal because Guzman did not formally question Pinochet, and that he should first undergo a psychological test. The decision forced Pinochet opponents to bring the case before the Supreme Court, which is about to make the final ruling. |
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