DAY EIGHTEEN: Trial Against David Castillo

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Last update: May 16 at 7:47 pm

Main Points of the Day

  • A series of conversations between Mariano Díaz Chávez, Henrry Hernandez and Douglas Bustillo were read and played in court. The conversations followed a specific timeline starting on January 4, 2016. The conversations outline discussions about planning and meeting to discuss the murder, finding the gatilleros (hitman), how much the hitman and Henrry charge to do the job, the need to do the job quickly, Mariano only wanting to help coordinate, the “higher ups” cancelling the plan, among other details.

  • The conversations also discussed a failed attempt to murder Berta Cáceres on February 5, 2016.

  • The trial will continue on Tuesday, May 18 at 9 am.

Listen below. Quote on image above reads: “I spoke with Henry and I explained what the guy from intelligence told me”. Audio published by COPINH. According to the expert witness’s analysis, the conversation took place on January 7, 2016.

The audio is at times is hard to understand. The gist of the conversation (other than what is captured in the quote above at the beginning of the audio) is Díaz telling Bustillo that he’s not going to get involved but that Henrry was standing by ready to do the job and waiting for orders. Diaz continues by saying he’s going to help Bustillo find other options [hitman or aspects of the murder plan] mentioning that Bustillo is working on it and Bustillo can make the decision when he’s ready.

Listen below. Quote on the image above reads: “I have the hitman” … “for 10000 [Lempiras, ~$400] he’s ready to do the job.” Audio published by COPINH

The gist of the conversation is that Díaz tells Henrry that the plans were cancelled and they were going to find other people. Hernandez tells Díaz that he has a hitman that he will do the job for 10,000 Lps [approx $400 USD] and that Bustillo asked Hernandez if he would do the job for 40,000 Lps [approx. $1600] and Hernandez said he could do it right away. Diaz tells Hernandez that he understands that the plans were cancelled by the ‘higher ups.’

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Rough translation

COPINH writes: “CHRONOLOGY: FAILED MURDER ATTEMPT AGAINST BERTA CACERES.

This afternoon, a failed assassination attempt against Berta Cáceres was revealed in court, scheduled for Feburary 5 and 6, 2016 with participation from David Castillo, and convicted hitman Douglas Bustillo, Mariano Díaz and Henrry Hernandez.

  1. On February 5 and 6, 2016, Douglas Bustillo was in Comayagua with hitman Henrry Hernandez. Bustillo showed him photos of Berta on his cell phone and gave Henrry a gun, provided by Mariano Díaz.

  2. Henrry Hernández went to La Esperanza (as cell towers indicate) to carry out the murder. Meanwhile, Bustillo informed Major Mariano Díaz of his movements.

  3. Later on, Henrry Hernandez told Mariano Díaz that the payment was 100,000 Lempiras. After, Henry told him that on that day, they could not carry out the murder because there was “a lot of people around.” Diaz told Hernandez to speak with his “friend” Douglas Bustillo.

  4. In the hours around the time of the murder, David Castillo monitored the actions from Tegucigalpa and wrote to Douglas Bustillo: “remember the accidents and the scene.” Meanwhile, Henrry also tells Díaz that they need a car in order to carry out the murder.

  5. On the morning of February 6, 2016, after the failed attempt, Henrry Hernandez communicated with Douglas Bustillo in seven calls. After, Bustillo informed David Castillo that the mission had been aborted and that they were “without logistics.”

  6. While Mariano Díaz coordinated with Henrry Hernandez about how to have the weapon Díaz had lent, returned to him, Douglas Bustillo insisted to David Castillo: “I don’t need information” “I need what you are going to budget” “the ideal tools and logistics” for the crime.

  7. In the evening on February 6 - after the failed attempt the previous day - while David Castillo received information about the Agua Zarca project, he also confirmed with Bustillo the status of the murder attempt: “copied, aborted mission”

COPINH posted pictures of these chats:

More Details

[NOTE: It is very hard to note and understand the conversations read in court. The expert witness is solely presenting the messages and chats and so far, has not provided any conclusions or framework to understand the big picture.

Several audio clips were played but they were extremely difficult to understand both because of quality and the manner in which the participants spoke. COPINH highlights the most relevant points (see translations and audio above)].