A federal court determined that Juan Manuel Martínez Moreno was not liable for criminal charges in the murder of journalist Brad Will and ordered his release.
(CPJ/IFEX) – New York, February 18, 2010 – The Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement today in response to reports that a federal court in Oaxaca state ordered the release of Juan Manuel Martínez Moreno, who was charged in 2008 for the 2006 killing of U.S. journalist Brad Will. The court determined that Martinez was not liable to criminal charges in Will’s murder, the Mexican newspaper El Universal reported. Will was killed on October 27, 2006 while documenting civil unrest in Oaxaca.
“We understand the ruling because we have seen no evidence against Juan Manuel Martínez Moreno,” said Carlos Lauría, CPJ senior program coordinator for the Americas. “Our main concern is that the Attorney General’s Office now pursues other lines of investigation including disregarded evidence that implicates supporters of the Oaxaca government.”
