Business Standard

Guatemalans get 200 years for Facebook-linked murders

Image

AFP Guatemala City
A court in Guatemala sentenced two men to 200 years in prison each for murdering two teenagers they contacted via Facebook, a judicial source said.

Eduardo Chen and Saul Garcia Arriaza were convicted for the deaths of Heydi Montufar Lorenzana, 16, and Heiser Alexandra Mercado Santos, 18.

The public prosecutor's office had initially requested 308 years behind bars.

Prosecutors argued during the trial yesterday that the two men chatted over Facebook with the teenagers and set up a meeting that way.

The investigation showed the girls were killed August 22, 2011, after being raped. Their bodies were found six days later in the southern town of Amatitlan.
 

These marked the first murder convictions in Guatemala where the victims and perpetrators contacted each other using Facebook.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Oct 13 2013 | 3:25 AM IST

Explore News