"Venezuela’s National Union of Press Workers (SNTP for its initials in Spanish) confirmed on Sunday, Jan. 25, the release of journalism student Juan Francisco Alvarado, who had been detained for more than 10 months after being accused of the crime of inciting hatred.
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Alvarado was sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 22, to 15 years in prison for inciting hatred. However, on Saturday, Jan. 24, an appeals court in the state of Cojedes overturned the sentence, ruling that there was insufficient evidence and ordering a retrial.
According to the SNTP, the appeals court found that the trial was marred by due process violations, including a lack of evidence, the absence of witnesses, and violations of Alvarado’s right to a defense. The court ordered the case be reheard by a different judge and in a different court."
