The judge of the Third Penal Court of Santo Domingo, Julio Cesar Lara, has sentenced former deacon Meregildo Diaz Diaz to 20 years in prison, after establishing his guilt as the instigator of the murder of Joel Alexander Diaz Sarmiento and his wife Yaniris Ruiz.
In his sentencing hearing the judge also imposed a 30-year sentence on former army sergeant Valentin Vicioso de Jesus, who committed the murders in the town of Azua last February. Both men are also obliged to pay compensation amounting to ten million pesos to the family of the deceased. The evidence that helped convict the pair included the two 55 gallon drums used in an attempt to incinerate the bodies, the cell phone belonging to Joel Sarmiento that was taken after he was killed, and telephone records to the deacon and the sergeant as well as two checks made out to the sergeant. Both men maintained their innocence at all times during the trial.