On October 13, 1973, Carlos Patricio ACUÑA ALVAREZ, 26 years old, an industrial protection officer at Cobrechuqui and a member of the Socialist Party, was executed by military personnel. The victim had voluntarily presented himself to military authorities on September 11, remaining under arrest for several days at the Calama Jail, before being transferred to the Antofagasta Jail, where he remained held incommunicado.

His family states that he was executed on October 13 at the Antofagasta Public Jail facility. His death certificate records the same date and location, and he was informed that a Consejo de Guerra (War Council) had been held against him. His remains were returned to his family.

Notwithstanding this verbal information, the Commission reached the conviction that the death of Carlos Acuña constituted an execution outside of all legality, for which State agents were responsible, in violation of his essential rights. It bases its conviction on the following circumstances:

– the absence of any record, despite requests made to the corresponding authority, indicating that a Consejo de Guerra had actually been held against the victim; and

– that in the event that any form of prosecution had existed against Carlos Acuña, it did not include legal counsel or even the most basic right to a defense.