The Penal Chamber of the Court of Appeals annulled the judgment that sentenced Mario José Redondo Llenas to 30 years in jail for the murder of his cousin, 12 year Jose Rafael Llenas Aybar. At the time of the murder, 3 May 1996, Redondo Llenas was 18-years old. The court decision is based on findings that the accused’s defense lawyers were not present at the time of the sentencing on 28 May 1998. The decision also annuls separating from the case accusations against the husband and the son of a former ambassador of Argentina in the DR (Luis and Martin Palmas). The case against these will be reopened when the Redondo Llenas case continues in March 2001.
