Six Colombian army soldiers on Friday were sentenced to 40 years in prison for the 2008 assassination of the husband of one of Colombia’s most prominent indigenous leaders.
According to the judge it was proven that the soldiers without reason opened fire on Edwin Legarda Vasquez when he was driving a car registered to his wife’s indigenous organization.
All soldiers were convicted for aggravated murder.
Aside having to spend the coming four decades in jail, they may not hold any public office for twenty years.
A seventh soldier prosecuted for the murder was released of all charges.
The murder caused outrage among Cauca indigenous who insisted that the soldiers had wanted to kill the wife of Legarda, Cauca indgenous leader Aida Quilcue.
The trial was being observed by Canadian members of Lawyers Without Borders.
