DAY TWENTY-ONE: Trial Against David Castillo

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Last update: May 21 at 6:15 pm

Main Points of the Day

  • Today was largely uneventful. Telecommunications data analyst Brenda Barahona continued on the stand and answered clarifying questions from the prosecutors and private accusers. The trial will continue tomorrow at 1 pm.

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Prosecutor Questions Telecomm Data Analyst Brenda Barahona

  • [NOTE: Most, if not all of the questions sought to clarify Barahona’s original declaration (see yesterday). Below are a few examples of the questions:

  • Q: Where were the wiretaps on Mariano Diaz’s cell phone obtained from? A: From a judicial file in another case.

  • Q: The file where Mariano’s phone was being tapped, what was the accusation against him? A: Drug trafficking.

  • Q: What is David Castillo’s position in DESA? A: I don’t remember

  • Q: When Mariano Diaz and Henrry Hernandez refer to “carne asada” in their messages, what do they mean by that? A: That they are going to kill someone

  • Q: What was David Castillo’s response to this (names a specific message read previously in court) message? A: He replied “copied”

  • Q: How many informants did Bustillo have? A: I don’t know because he never refers to how many. In one message, he said he paid an informant 500 Lps and he was asking Daniel Atala for 1000 Lps for two weeks.

Private Accusers Questions For Brenda Barahona

  • Q: What is your designation in the National Investigation and Intelligence Directorate? A: I’m an analyst

  • Q: What is the difference between the investigations done by ATIC [Technical Agency for Criminal Investigation] and the intelligence team you work with? A: There isn’t a difference or there shouldn’t be a difference.

  • Q: What relationship does your institution have with ATIC? A: In this case, we formed a disciplinary team that included ATIC, DPI, the institution I work for, and foreigners.

  • Q: Why was Daniel Atala’s telephone number declared suspicious? A: Because he is part of the company.

  • Q: What is the financial role of Daniel Atala? A: Bustillo and Castillo both asked him for money for certain situations.

  • Q: Why is the Whatsapp chat ‘PHAZ Committee’ important? A: Because in this chat is where they shared information about security and Berta Cáceres.

  • Q: What elements of organized crime did you identify in the data? A: They talked about “carne asada” …. the organization, the logistics, charging to do work, and others but I don’t remember.

  • Q: What military or police elements did you find? A: In the chats, they say “Mr.” to refer to Mariano which shows a level of respect to a high degree of hierarchy. They also mention the word ‘chispero’ [a slang or code word possibly for a weapon]. He [Henrry] also waited for orders to carry out the job he was given.

  • Q: Based on your analysis, what function did each participant have in the dynamic of the crime? A: There is information that Castillo and Bustillo belonged to the military. Mariano was still inside the institution, and Henry was as well at some point but in a lower position. Mariano and Bustillo were compañeros and they had a friendship.