Argentina: Whether an individual found not guilty of murder for lack of proof could be re-tried should new evidence or witnesses appear (1997 - January 2000)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 5 January 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ARG36098.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Argentina: Whether an individual found not guilty of murder for lack of proof could be re-tried should new evidence or witnesses appear (1997 - January 2000), 5 January 2001, ARG36098.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be0814.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No information pertaining specifically to whether an individual found not guilty of murder for lack of proof could subsequently be re-tried for the same crime could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, under the terms of Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Argentina is a signatory (United Nations 22 May 1996),
No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which he has already been finally convicted or acquitted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of each country (UNHCHR 16 Dec. 1966).
Argentina is also a signatory to the American Convention on Human Rights (United Nations 22 May 1996), which stipulates in Article 8 that an "accused person acquitted by a nonappealable judgement shall not be subjected to a new trial for the same cause" (OAS 22 Nov. 1969).
The constitutions of at least 12 provinces, namely Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Formosa, Jujuy, Mendoza, Misiones, Salta, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego and Tucumán, also contain clauses stipulating that individuals cannot be tried more than once for the same crime (Buenos Aires 30 Aug. 1994; Córdoba 29 Apr. 1987; Formosa 30 Nov. 1957; Jujuy 17 Nov. 1986; Mendoza 11 Feb. 1916; Misiones 22 Dec. 1988; Salta 8 Apr. 1998; San Luis 8 Apr. 1987; Santa Cruz 27 Nov. 1998; Santiago del Estero 23 Dec. 1997; Tierra del Fuego 17 May 1991; Tucumán 18 Apr. 1990).
Newspaper reports published in 2000 refer to at least two cases in which the principle of "double jeopardy" was cited in connection with legal proceedings in Argentina (El Tribuno 5 Jan. 2000; Agencia Diarios y Noticias 15 Nov. 2000; El Mercurio 19 Nov. 2000).
In January 2000, the federal minister of justice, Ricardo Gil Lavedra, discussing Judge Gustavo Literas' decision to deny a Spanish extradition request for 47 individuals suspected of human rights violations during the period of military rule, stated that a person should not be judged twice for the same offence (una persona no debe ser juzgada dos veces por las misma causa) (ibid.).
In November 2000, lawyers representing Arancibia Clavel, charged in connection with the 1974 killing of Chilean General Carlos Prats and his wife, argued that documents used as evidence in another trial were not admissible because their use would violate the principle that an individual cannot be tried twice on the same facts (violaba el principio que indica que una persona no puede ser juzgada dos veces por el mismo hecho) (Agencia Diarios y Noticias 15 Nov. 2000; El Mercurio 19 Nov. 2000). No information on the outcome of this trial could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agencia Diarios y Noticias (DyN). 15 November 2000. "Abogados defensores piden que Arancibia Clavel sea declarado inocente por el crimen del General Prats."
Buenos Aires. 30 August 1994. Constitución de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.
Córdoba. 29 April 1987. Constitución de la Provincia de Córdoba.
Formosa. 30 November 1957. Constitución de la Provincia de Formosa.
Jujuy. 17 November 1986. Constitución de la Provincia de Jujuy.
Mendoza. 11 February 1916. Constitución de la Provincia de Mendoza.
El Mercurio [Santiago de Chile]. 19 November 2000. Juan Aray Díaz. "La reja entreabierta: Arancibia Clavel frente su destino."
Misiones. 22 December 1988. Constitución de la Provincia de Misiones.
Organization of American States (OAS). 22 November 1969. American Convention on Human Rights "Pact of San José, Costa Rica"
Salta. 8 April 1998. Constitución de la Provincia de Salta.
San Luis. 8 April 1987. Constitución de la Provincia de San Luis.
Santa Cruz. 27 November 1998. Constitución de la Provincia de Santa Cruz.
Santiago del Estero. 23 December 1997. Constitución de la Provincia de Santiago del Estero.
Tierra del Fuego, Antárdida e Islas del Atlántico Sur. 17 May 1991. Constitución de la Provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Antárdida e Islas del Atlántico Sur.
El Tribuno [Salta]. 5 January 2000. "La reja entreabierta: Arancibia Clavel frente su destino."
Tucumán. 18 April 1990. Constitución de la Provincia de Tucumán.
United Nations. 22 May 1996. "Core Document Forming Part of the Reports of State Parties: Argentina."
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR). 16 December 1966. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Additional Sources Consulted
Asociación de Abogados de Buenos Aires.
Defensor del Pueblo de la Nación.
IRB databases.
Internet sites including:
Base de Datos Políticos de las Américas.
Clarín [Buenos Aires]. 1999-2001.
Legalmania.
La Nación [Buenos Aires]. 1999-2001.