(IPYS/IFEX) – On the night of 12 October 2006, journalist Francisco Bonilla Romero was shot in the face and killed after a tussle with two masked men. The authorities have still not determined the motives for the murder. The crime took place in Cali, a city in western Colombia. On 19 October, Cali Metropolitan Police […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On the night of 12 October 2006, journalist Francisco Bonilla Romero was shot in the face and killed after a tussle with two masked men. The authorities have still not determined the motives for the murder. The crime took place in Cali, a city in western Colombia.
On 19 October, Cali Metropolitan Police Commander José León Riaño told IPYS that the murder took place when the journalist tried to prevent a robbery at the home of his brother-in-law Mario de Ayala, the Spanish consul in Cali.
However, on 23 October “El Tiempo” newspaper reported that upon the arrival of Bonilla and the diplomat at the latter’s home following a social engagement, the murderers appeared and one of them said, “It’s him,” referring to the journalist, and then shot him.
On 20 October, about 50 journalists, lawyers and publicists signed a communiqué urging the authorities to investigate the crime.
Bonilla was founder of Colombia’s Association of Foreign Correspondents (Asociación de Corresponsales Extranjeros) and at the time of his death had also been working in advertising.
