A Colombian judge denied a request to start over the judicial process being advanced against Army Lieutenant Raul Muñoz Linares, accused of the murder of three children.
The judge ruled that, despite a request from the lieutenant’s defense lawyer, it was unnecessary to nullify the preparatory judicial hearing that had already occurred due to the change in the judge in charge of the process, local media reported Friday.
Judge Gloria Costanza Gaona, originally assigned to the case, was murdered in March of this year, apparently by forces from the guerrilla organization ELN, working to discredit the army.
According to the judge, the lieutenant’s defense lawyer lacked an adequate argument, and only managed to express his client’s right to defense.
Based on the ruling the proceedings will continue to develop normally and the Prosecutor General’s Office will begin to present evidence, which supports the allegation that the ex-military officer is responsible for the crimes.
Muñoz Linares has been held in prison since Fall 2010 for allegedly raping two girls, killing one of them and her two brothers in Tame, Arauca department, in a case in which 60 members of the armed forces were investigated.