4 soldiers sentenced in civilian court
A Mexican court has sentenced four soldiers to up to 40 years in prison for the rapes of nine women in July 2006, the first time troops have been tried in a civilian court, said Judge Hiradier Huerta in the northern state of Coahuila.
The case went to a civilian court because the soldiers abandoned their posts, and the crimes were not linked in any way to their duties in the military, he said.
The case is particularly relevant because the military faces accusations of human rights abuses in its fight against drug cartels, mainly in the western state of Michoacan.
The soldiers can still appeal the case to Mexico’s Supreme Court in hopes of getting a military trial.
Mexico’s military courts, which are closed to the public, have very rarely tried soldiers accused of human rights abuses.
Huerta is due to rule later on the case of three other soldiers accused of raping another woman in the same mining city, Monclova, on the same day.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
