Noreiga facing Chiriqui murder trial in March 2012
FORMER DICTATOR Manuel Antonio Noriega will appear in court March 13, to face charges over the 1968 disappearance and murder of a US Marine.
It is the first of what will likely be a long series of court appearances as he has been charged with multiple crimes ranging from mured to human rights abuses.
Everett Clayton Kimble Guerra, a Panamanian-American was 21 when he disappeared. . Also charged are Aristóteles García y Abundio Moreno. Garcia did not appear at the preliminary hearing in September and Moreno is awaiting sentencing.
The trial was set by the High Court of Chiriqui. Noriega was in charge of the headquarters of the western province of Chiriqui, bordering Costa Rica, when the events occurred. Also charged are Aristóteles García y Abundio Moreno. Garcia did not appear at the preliminary hearing in September and Moreno is awaiting sentencing.
Last week, the High Court of Chiriquí denied a petition for annulment against Noriega for trial. The ex strongman of Panama (1983-1989) is also accused of murdering in 1969, the political leader Luis Antonio Quiroz Morales, but this process is under appeal.
Noriega was extradited on December 11 from France, and is being held at the El Renacer prison where he is serving sentences totaling more than 60 years for crimes ranging from murder, violation of human rights toenvironmental damage.
In all these cases, Noriega was convicted in absentia. From January 1990 until his recent extradition, he wa serving sentences for drug trafficking and money laundering in U.S. and French jails.
