Jose Rusbell Lara v. Colombia (Admissibility Decision) IACHR (5 August 2009) Report No. 70/09

Jose Rusbell Lara, a Colombian national and well-known human rights defender, was murdered by paramilitary members in an execution-style shooting.  His murder happened subsequent to the issuance of precautionary measures by the Commission to ensure his protection following threats to his life.  The State’s subsequent investigation failed to timely bring the perpetrators to justice including the alleged master-minds who were themselves murdered or extradited to the United States respectively.  The Commission held the lack of an effective investigation and other evidence submitted were admissible for consideration