Judge Orders Mixtec Indians Release From Prison After 10 Years for 'Cultural Reasons' EFE
go to original May 27, 2013

Undated photograph of (from left to right) Leobardo Zuñiga, Marcial Zuñiga, Pedro Gatica, Leobardo Zuñiga (grandson) and Sebastian Zuñiga. (EFE/ASILEGAL A.C.)

MEXICO CITY .- Two Mixtec Indians have been ordered released from prison after serving 10 years by a Mexican judge, who ruled that the father and son were incapable of "understanding the legal ramifications of their conduct."

Sebastian and Marcial Zuñiga were convicted and ordered to serve 17 years in prison following a trial that was full of irregularities.

Leobardo Zuñiga was also charged and convicted in the same case, but he was released a few months ago after losing his eyesight due to diabetes.

The three men were charged in connection with the Aug. 12, 2001, shooting death of a child in Ayutla de los Libres, a city in the southern state of Guerrero.

No one saw who fired the shots, but authorities charged the three Indians.

The judge did not find that the Zuñigas were not guilty, ruling only that the three Indians should be released for cultural reasons.

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!