Wilmer Zambrano Velez at al v. Ecuador (Merits, Reparations, Costs) IACtHR Series C No 166 (4 July 2007)

Three men were killed by State forces during a joint police military operation to combat drug trafficking and organized criminal activity in Ecuador.  The State failed to conduct an effective investigation into the matter of the three men’s deaths and the Court held the State to be in violation of the right to life and the duty to conduct an effective investigation into the illegal use of lethal force.