Mariano Durán Cabrera, who was extradited from the US to face charges of having fired the shot that killed journalist Orlando Martinez in 1975, told local judicial authorities that he is innocent. He said he confessed to the crime in 1975 under pressure. He accused Salvador Lluberes Montás (Minister of Armed Forces at the time), Antonio Pou Castro, Luis Emilio de la Rosa Beras, the late General José Isidoro Martínez (chief of the A2 intelligence branch of the Air Force at the time), and Rafael Lluberes Ricart of the crime. His declarations contradict the declarations given by the others that are implicated in the crime of the journalist. He said he migrated to the US after two others that were witnesses to the crime (Eulogio Cordero Germán at a pizza parlor and Apolinar Rivas in bed after drinking beer) mysteriously died. He said he was accused of the crime because he was the military of the least rank of those involved. He also told authorities that Navy Colonel Abreu Rodríguez is involved. He said Rodríguez, at the time chief of the intelligence services of the Armed Forces was whom sent him to Joaquín Antonio Pou Castro, who gave him his orders. Journalist Orlando Martínez was murdered on 17 March 1975. The case has been kept open as its solving is considered to be necessary for freedom of the press in the DR. Former President Joaquín Balaguer (president at the time of the crime) wrote in one of his autobiographies that he knows the details of what happened, and that these will be revealed after his death.
