On Tuesday, Chile's district attorney's office requested for Carlos Alarcon, the police officer who murdered Mapuche community leader Camilo Catrillanca in November of last year, to serve 15 years in prison.
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According to judicial sources, the Public Prosecutor's Office will bring eight accused individuals to trial for different offences linked to the case and will produce over 70 witnesses to testify, including Interior Minister Andres Chadwick.
Catrillanca was shot in the back of the head while driving a tractor, along with a 15-year-old child in the community of Temucuicui. The incident took place during a supposed police operation against alleged car thieves.
The chief prosecutor of the Human Rights Unit of the Prosecutor's Office of the city of Temuco, Roberto Garrido explained that there is "expert evidence that contains the ballistic trajectories and testimonial evidence that confirms that there was no attack against the police officials."
Chile's Prosecutor's Office has charged Carlos Alcaron, a retired sergeant, for the crime of homicide as well as attempted manslaughter against the minor who was accompanying Cartillanca on the tractor at the time of the event.
Relatives of Camilo Catrillanca considered the penalties requested by the Public Ministry as insufficient for the crime against the Mapuche community. They have announced their plan to ask for the maximum penalty.
One of the accused, Raul Avila, is facing several charges, including the destruction of the memory card on one of the police cameras and unlawful coercion of a child.
The other six accused face lesser offences, with sentences ranging from 300 days imprisonment to cash fines.