Once again, the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the National Court supports the defense theories of three of the four former ETA leaders prosecuted for the death of Miguel Angel Blanco.
The prosecutor in this case, Carlos Garcia-Berroconsiders that their criminal responsibility in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of this PP councillor, which occurred in 1997, involves all of them.
As stated in a letter dated September 12, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has declared “ratification of its support” for the appeals filed by the ETA members. Mikel Albisu, Soledad Iparraguire And Ignacio Miguel Gracia Arregui.
The first of them is nicknamed Mikel Antza. The second, Anboto. The third, Iñaki of RenteríaIf García Berro confirms his membership, it is because, on June 4, he had already supported the defense of these three former ETA leaders, each of whom presented reformist appeals against their prosecutions.
Reform is a form of appeal filed before the magistrate who issued the contested resolution. In this case, Manuel Garcia-Castellonwho was, at that time —he has just retired—, president of the Central Court of Instruction number 6 of the National Court. It was this judge who prosecuted in April of this year the four leaders of ETA for the assassination of Blanco.
This first attempt having failed, the defenses of Antza, Anboto And Renteria They recently filed their appeals, which are filed before the highest instance of the Court, the Criminal Chamber of the National Court, composed of three magistrates. This court can revoke or ratify the decisions of the investigator.
However, in the aforementioned letter of September 12, García Berro adheres, once again, to the demands of these three members of ETA. Another resolution, to which EL ESPAÑOL has had access, is scheduled for the following day, the 23rd, at 11:30 a.m., the hearing for the analysis of the appeals, during which the parties to this case will be able to inform the Criminal Chamber of everything they deem appropriate.
Pursuit
On April 25, Judge García-Castellón proposed to try these three ETA leaders for their responsibility in the assassination of Miguel Ángel Blanco.
According to the magistrate, his domination over the terrorist gangof which they were the main leaders at the time of the events under investigation, must bring them before the court. Because? Because they not only ordered this death, but they were able to avoid it during the two days that the victim’s abduction lasted. And they didn’t.
It was then that their respective defenses challenged this decision by García-Castellón and asked the judge to retract and not to bring them to trial. According to him, the events that occurred in 1997 were outdated for his clients. The prosecutor of yesterday and today, both in his reform appeals and in his appeals, supports the decision of the former ETA leaders.
In 2006, ETA members had already been found guilty of being the main perpetrators of the death of Miguel Ángel Blanco. Francisco Javier Garcia Gaztelu (alias Txapote) and his girlfriend, Irantzu Gallastegui Sodupe (known as Amaïa).
‘Kantaouri’
Sources consulted by EL ESPAÑOL maintain that the Prosecutor’s Office will formulate its indictment only against one defendant, Javier Arizcuren Ruiznicknamed Kantaourithe rest of the four ETA leaders who were investigated in this case. In fact, the aforementioned sources claim that García Berro will request that he alone be tried for the murder of Miguel Ángel Blanco.
One of the most decisive elements against him is a letter, prior to Blanco’s assassination, published by this newspaper. As part of the Zuba (ETA leadership), Kantaouri He urged the gang members to kidnap and kill the PP advisers.
“The importance of this moment is immense. What we ask of you is that the actions you carry out are direct against the occupying forces (Civil Guard, military, National Police…) and a huge effort with the politiciansIt is very important to hand them over to the PP politicians. Do you think that every PP politician is objective?. Repeat the importance of these actions. (…) Another thing: put all possible force to appoint a PP advisor, giving an ultimatum of days for the prisoners to be in Euskadi. (…) In relation to this problem (kidnapping), do it as soon as possible” Arizcuren Ruiz expressed in writing.
If one of the three defendants for whom the prosecution considers that the trial is time-barred is in the dock, García Berro will argue on the statute of limitations of the facts at the beginning of the trial, during the preliminary questions phase.
