Date: 19 November 2009
Mr. Manuel Oropeza, a Mexican journalist and medical doctor was murdered at his home in Ciudad Juarez following publication of opinion pieces in a local newspaper, highly critical of police/drug trafficking connections in the area. The State conducted an investigation which was ineffective and resulted in placing blame on a culprit imprisoned in the United States for an unrelated charge. The State was found responsible for violating the right to freedom of expression by failing to effectively investigate his death based on the credible allegations of the links between his publications and his murder and the violation extended to all citizens. The Commission also held the state responsible for violating the victim and family’s right to an effective remedy enshrined in the right to a fair trial read with the right to judicial protection. The Commission ordered the State to make restitution to the family and conduct an impartial investigation and to prosecute and punish those found criminally responsible for his death.
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