Romero Case to Continue on Friday, September 3

MEDIA ADVISORY

Friday, Sept. 3 Set for Decision

in Historic Case against Organizer of 1980 Assassination

of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador

Fresno, California

When:             Friday, September 3

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where:            United States District Court for the Eastern District of California

                        Courtroom 2 (Judge Oliver W. Wanger)

                        1130 “O” Street,  Fresno, California 

                        Tel.  (559) 498-7483

Contacts:        

Center for Justice & Accountability

Matthew Eisenbrandt, Litigation Director: cell: (415) 225-0028

Almudena Bernabeu, International Attorney, cell: (415) 305-2097        

Patty Blum, Senior Legal Advisor, cell: (646) 644-3887

Sandra Coliver, Executive Director: off: (415) 544-0444 x 305 // cell: (202) 422-4837

Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP

Nicholas van Aelstyn, Partner: cell: (415) 519-1661

Russell Cohen, cell: (415) 203-8021

Wayne Kessler: (212) 847-8680

San Francisco, August 31, 2004.  Judge Wanger will issue a decision on September 3 in the case against Alvaro Saravia, one of the key organizers of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador.

He is expected to announce the decision sometime after 1pm, after hearing two more witnesses and the closing argument of plaintiff’s counsel.

His ruling is expected to address whether the court has jurisdiction to decide the case and whether the evidence presented is sufficient to establish Saravia’s liability for the crime. If those questions are decided in the affirmative, Judge Wanger is expected to order Saravia to pay monetary damages to the plaintiff in the case, a relative of the Archbishop.

The hearing is the culmination of a lawsuit brought against Modesto resident Alvaro Rafael Saravia for his role in organizing the March 1980 assassination.  Saravia, a former Captain in the Salvadoran military, was the right-hand man of reputed Salvadoran death squad leader Roberto D’Aubuisson. The case was brought by the Center for Justice & Accountability and the SF law firm of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe.

Saravia has gone underground and has not participated in the trial. Those bringing the case hope that the decision, and evidence produced at the trial, may lead to Saravia’s eventual arrest by the immigration service.

Stated Heller Ehrman lawyer Russell Cohen, "This case builds on the efforts of many to counter impunity with accountability and ultimately to bring justice for and in El Salvador.  The case is part of a world-wide movement that includes the Chilean Supreme Court's decision that Pinochet must stand trial for his crimes.  What these cases are saying is that justice is needed if reconciliation and the rule of law are to take root." 

Two witnesses will testify on September 3^rd:

• Prof. Terry Karl of Stanford will continue her detailed testimony about the involvement of the military in the death squad responsible for Archbishop Romero’s murder. She will present previously classified cables.
• Prof. Naomi Roht-Arriaza of University of California Hastings Law School will testify about the impact of the 1993 Amnesty law and why it has been impossible, both for legal and practical reasons, to bring a civil suit or criminal prosecution in El Salvador against the killers.

For more information, including the complaint, witness bios, photos, summaries of testimony, and answers to frequently asked questions, please go to CJA’s website: www.cja.org.