* Jose Canovas; Foe of Pinochet Regime in Chile

Jose Canovas, 78, a judge who challenged the former military regime of Gen. Augusto Pinochet of Chile with his investigation of a triple political murder. He gained international prominence in 1985 when he indicted several police officers in the throat-slashing assassinations of three members of the then-banned Communist Party. His action triggered a major political crisis for the Pinochet regime, which included the resignation of the commander of the military police, Gen. Cesar Mendoza. Mendoza was one of four military leaders who staged the 1973 coup that overthrew President Salvador Allende’s leftist government and brought Pinochet to power. Canovas’ challenge of the powerful military regime made him a hero to the nation’s human rights organizations and Pinochet’s political opponents. Months later, however, the Supreme Court threw out the indictments. In Santiago, Chile, on Friday of a heart ailment.