Civil trial begins today for foreign torture suspect

Posted on Sun, Sep. 21, 2003

HUMAN RIGHTS
Civil trial begins today for foreign torture suspect
Relatives of a former Chilean government official sue a local man claiming he was involved in the official's murder.
By ALFONSO CHARDY
achardy@herald.com

A federal courtroom in downtown Miami will become the stage Monday for the civil trial of a foreign torture suspect implicated in the murders of members or supporters of former Chilean President Salvador Allende's government.

The case against Armando Fernández Larios, a former Chilean army officer now living in Kendall, stems from a lawsuit by relatives of Winston Cabello, regional planning director for Allende, who was overthrown by the military in 1973. The relatives claim that Cabello, along with 12 other political prisoners, were executed by a squad of soldiers that included Fernández Larios about a month after Allende's overthrow.

Jury selection is expected to begin today in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard.

The trial could last up to two weeks. (snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/6823347.htm