DAY NINETEEN: Trial Against David Castillo
/Last update: May 19 at 12:27 pm
Main Points of the Day
Expert telecommunication witness, Brenda Barahona presents a timeline of chats and conversations between Daniel Atala, David Castillo, Douglas Bustillo, Mariano Díaz, and Henry Hernandez and less frequently mentioned actors including Jacobo Atala, Jorge Avila, and others. The timeline begins to paint a bigger picture of the coordination between all of the actors in the lead up to the failed murder attempt in February 2016 and Berta’s murder in March.
Using chat messages and telephone location data, Barahona provides several observations and explanations of the relationship between Berta Cáceres and David Castillo. Some include:
Castillo and Cáceres met in person on at least 4 occasions between January 10, 2015 and November 2, 2015.
Observation: “When Berta Isabel Cáceres Flores proposed meeting with David Castillo, which was not planned or not in his interests, David Castillo would be unavailable meet, claiming he was outside of Tegucigalpa and in other occasions, was ill.”
Observation: “Roberto David Castillo made Berta Cáceres believe that despite their different points of view and interests, he appreciated her. This is disputed because when she tried to reason with him (defend her convictions), many times he ignored her and did not respond to her messages. Later he would write back because he hoped to obtain information about her and her activities”
Observation: “Various messages sent by David Castillo, emphasized his friendship with Berta. One can perceive his subtle form of complaining about Berta in situations like: motivating people to protest against the PHAZ [Agua Zarca hydroelectric project]; not paying attention while busy with her environmental activities or family; coordination and COPINH’s accompaniment in “the Indignados marches”, using this as a means to obtain information from Berta and about her own movements.”
Observation: “In February 2016, Berta Cáceres showed disappointment and annoyance with David Castillo. She began to doubt the friendship that existed between them.”
The trial will continue tomorrow at 9 am.
More Details
COPINH Publish the Following Chats and Audio
COPINH writes: “Jacobo Atala to David Castillo: “Now, this is going to bury us with everything” after he is informed about his employee Sergio Rodriguez’s arrest for the crime against Berta Cáceres. Later, Jacobo Atala wants to use his influence to speak with the Attorney General (Chinchilla), with general Pacheco (Minister of Security) and asks about the Assistant Attorney General (Rigoberto Cuellar).”
COPINH writes: “The information about the raid on Sergio Rodriguez’s house was known [by Sergio and others] before it happened. The Public Prosecutor’s Office leaked information to lawyer Celeste Cerrato that it would occur, alerting one of the implicated men in Berta Cáceres’s murder.”
COPINH writes: “One month after the murder, Douglas Bustillo asked a woman on April 1 to send a text message to a number to which he could not send messages from his phone “for reasons that you already know.” After this phone call, she sent 7 messages to David Castillo.”
Expert Barahona’s Telecommunication Data Analysis
Barahona’s analysis of the extracted data showed:
A diagram focused on Daniel Atala’s telecommunications that shows how Atala communicated with Sergio Rodriguez, David Castillo, and Douglas Bustillo to discuss Berta Cáceres, including: 1. Atala asking Castillo to ask Berta not to bother them, 2. Castillo asking Atala for transportation to go see Berta, 3. Atala and Bustillo discussing following and monitoring COPINH and paying informants.
A diagram of David Castillo’s communication with Sergio Rodriguez, Daniel Atala, Douglas Bustillo, and Carolina Castillo showing how Castillo followed and reported on Berta and COPINH’s activities along with other DESA employees/executives.
Photo published by COPINH. At the top is David Castillo’s phone number and around it, contacts and the respective chats with DESA’s employees and executives.
A diagram of Sergio Rodriguez’s communications in both private and group chats and conversations.
published by copinh
Barahona then presented a timeline of communications starting on January 4, 2016 and involving all communications between the relevant actors. The witness begins to read the conversations in court but is interrupted by the judges who argue that they are repetitive. Most of the chats were read during the data extraction expert’s testimony, David Alexander Amador.
photo published by copinh. the photo is some of the conversations included in the timeline. here Carolina Castillo is speaking with Daniel Atala about loans from the international banks financing the Agua zarca dam
Barahona’s Full Observations and Conclusions about Cáceres and Castillo’s Relationship
Barahona used conversations and cell tower locations to outline and describe her observations.
That Castillo and Cáceres met in person on at least 4 occasions between January 10, 2015 and November 2, 2015.
Observation: “When David Castillo wanted information about protest activities and Berta Cáceres Flores’s movements, he treated her cordially and referred to her as “my esteemed,” he would also showed interest and availability to meet with her.”
On their in-person meetings: “David Castillo would avoid meeting with Berta Cáceres for personal or casual reasons: Berta would travel to Tegucigalpa and ask Castillo if they could meet. In some occasions, he would say that he was outside of Tegucigalpa or on his way from some place, but the [cell phone] antennas shows his location is Tegucigalpa.
Observation: “When Berta Isabel Cáceres Flores proposed meeting with David Castillo, which were not planned or not in his interests, David was not willing to be available to meet, claiming he was outside of Tegucigalpa and in other occasions, was ill.”
Observation: “Roberto David Castillo made Berta Cáceres believe that despite their different points of view and interests, he appreciated her. This is disputed because when she tried to reason with him (defend her convictions), many times he ignored her and did not respond to her messages. Later he would write back because he hoped to obtain information about her and her activities”
On monitoring her activities: “David Castillo had knowledge of Berta’s whereabouts and activities. “
Observation: “Various messages sent by David Castillo, emphasized his friendship with Berta. One can perceive a subtle form of complaining about Berta in situations like: motivating people to protest against the PHAZ [Agua Zarca hydroelectric project]; not paying attention while busy with her environmental activities or family; coordination and COPINH’s accompaniment in “the Indignados marches” using this as a means to obtain information from Berta and about her own movements.”
Highlighted chats read: PAGE ONE - From Castillo: “They told me you were in Tejera [community in Rio Blanco]. They told me that you were motivating people to go stop the Canjel [another dam project close to Agua Zarca project]. And to go and protest at the river against AZ [Agua Zarca]”
PAGE TWO - From Castillo: “Very active. Planning activities …” Berta responds: “In a meeting with the ‘Indignados … “ Castillo responds: “Yes, of course, I share a part of your struggles! I’ve always told you that.”
PAGE THREE - From Castillo: “I see that COPINH is now leading the Indignados … “ Berta responds “But not just in that, also involved in the topic of the International Mining Congress … “ Castillo writes: “I’ve seen that you were busy with the indignados marches …” Castillo writes: “But you have been busy.” “With your events and political activities.”
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On their chat communications: “Messages show that David Castillo would try to manipulate Berta Cáceres, making it seem like despite her position as an environmentalist, there was a friendship between them.”
Observation: “In February 2016, Berta Cáceres showed disappointment and annoyance with David Castillo. She began to doubt the friendship that existed between them.”