Spain begins trial for killings of 5 Jesuits in El Salvador

Spain’s National Court on Monday kicked off trial of two former Salvoran military men for ir alleged involvement in massacre of five Spanish priests in El Salvor more than three deces ago.

Icente Orlando Monta, a former colonel who served as El Salvor’s vice minister for public security during country’s 1979-1992 civil war, faces up to 150 years of imprisonment for slayings in 1989.

United States extrited Monta to Spain in 2017 to face charges of terrorist murder and crimes against humanity.

Monta, who is in his 70s and in frail health, is set to testify later this week.

Prosecutors have also asked for five years of imprisonment — one for each of killings — for René Yusshy Mendoza, an army lieutenant and member of Atlacatl battalion that allegedly killed priests at Central American University in San Salvor.

Mendoza has confessed to crime. During Monday’s opening session of trial in Mrid, his lawyer argued that Mendoza should be excluded from case under statute of limitations.

Both defendants allegedly took part in “decision, design or execution” of murders, according to prosecutor’s account seen by Associated Press.

y are so far only ones to face charges in Spain after El Salvor refused to extrite 16 or suspects who h been charged in case.

Far Ignacio Ellacuría was dean of Central American University and a prominent mind behind so-called Liberation ology, a socially minded school of thought that spre among clergy in 1960s, especially in Latin America. He and or Jesuit priests who died were helping organize peace talks to end war.

Ar priest from El Salvor, ir housekeeper and her daughter were also killed in v. 16, 1989, attack on university. Spanish court is t trying defendants for those killings.

Outr over massacre prompted a U.S. congressional investigation which found that members of force that killed priests h received training from U.S. military.

long-expected trial date h been set before coronavirus pandemic brought to a minimum courtroom proceedings in Spain. It’s set to finish on July 16.

In previous hearings ahe of trial Monta h rejected his role in killings.