DAY THIRTY-FOUR: Trial Against David Castillo

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Last update: June 9 at 7:15 pm

Main Points of the Day

  • Expert witness Waxenecker concluded his expert analysis stating that David Castillo’s position of power, his institutional relationships and respective business circles, motivated and materialized Berta’s murder in the context of the implementation of the Agua Zarca project. Waxenecker also concluded that the principal cause of the murder was the dispute surrounding the “appropriated environment” (the Gualcarque river) and efforts of the power networks mentioned in his analysis, to profit from the Agua Zarca project.

  • Tomorrow at 9 am, Waxenecker will be questioned by the prosecutors and the defense. Then Berta Zúniga Cáceres is expected to testify bringing an end to the evidence presented by the legal teams representing the Cáceres family.

Image published by COPINH. “Communication hierarchy of the criminal network behind Berta Cáceres’s murder”

Image published by COPINH. “Communication hierarchy of the criminal network behind Berta Cáceres’s murder”

More Details

Expert Witness Harald Waxenecker’s Conclusions

  • David Castillo’s position and power relations motivated and made the materialization of Berta Cácere’s murder possible through, 1. Institutional and and business relationships in the context of the adjudication and implementation of energy projects in Honduras, specifically the Agua Zarca dam. This conditioned the motive of the crime, 2. Castillo’s power resources available to him made the planning, coordination and execution of the murder, possible.

  • The murder occurred in the context of the social contradictions caused by the Agua Zarca dam.

  • Waxenecker used the following conceptual frameworks: “politicized nature,” illicit political-economic networks, and power: resources, relationships.

  • The contextual conditions of the murder: Process of liberalization of the energy market; the post-coup context; the deformations of the energy market in Honduras.

  • Characterizing David Castillo’s position of power:

    • Political-Institutional position of power in the post-coup context: In the Armed Forces, ENEE, and DESA

    • Polycontextual character: His military circles, institutional circles, and economic circles, all of which, overlapped.

    • Public-private and political-economic networks: Access to privileged information, involvement with organized crime.

    • Use of power