Multiple contradictions came forth regarding the murder of Ahora newsweekly magazine editor Orlando Martinez as the trial continued on Monday, 31 July. The contradictions included debate of whether the journalist was to be beat up, to teach him a lesson; whether the plan to kill him was three months old. Alfredo Lluberes Ricart (alias Lluberito), one of the accused, said that the only person who fired a shot was former sergeant Mariano Duran Cabrera. Lluberes Ricart said that the group planned to beat up Orlando Martinez. Lluberes said that he himself prepared the tubes with which they would beat up the journalist. Alfredo Lluberes Ricart said he is not sorry for participating in events. He said that "during the 12 years of Balaguer there was a war between Communists, police and military". He was known as Captain Lluberito during the 12 years. He said he had no rank in the military, was assigned work by the intelligence department of the military. Luis Emilio de la Rosa Beras, one of the accused, said that no one spoke of killing Martinez, rather the idea was to give him a beating. De la Rosa admitted to Judge Katia Miguelina Jimenez that he was part of the Banda Colorá. "I was chosen to give a beating a person who spoke bad about the government because I had courage, but I didn’t know who the person was," said De la Rosa Beras, who was 17 at the time, as per newspaper reports. Mariano Cabrera Duran and Alfredo Lluberes Ricart said that the late general Jose Isidoro Martinez drove the other car that was used to intercept the journalist near the UASD. Cabrera Duran said that he received the order from then major Pou Castro, and that the journalist was to be arrested. Also accused former sergeant Cabrera, who was extradited from the US to face charges, said that he had orders from Colonel Ramon Abreu Rodriguez to place himself at the order of Major Pou Castro to carry out the arrest. Abreu Rodriguez at the time was head of the J-2, the intelligence organization of the Air Force. The at the time Minister of the Air Force, Salvador Lluberes Montás is also awaiting trial as the intellectual author of the crime. For earlier coverage on the trial, see previous DR1 issues.
