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Colombian politician to stand trial for killing of journalist nine years ago

The ex-director of the Liberal political party in Colombia, Francisco Ferney Tapasco González, is going to be tried in the killing of the assistant editor of the newspaper La Patria, Orlando Sierra, who was killed by a hit man on Jan, 30, 2002, in the Colombian city of Manizales, reported El País.

Tapasco González had been linked to organized crime last March when the prosecutor ordered him jailed while awaiting trial as the possible mastermind behind the journalist's killing. The politician is fulfilling a five-year prison sentence for his alleged ties to paramilitary groups, reported Radio Santa Fe.

Journalist Orlando Sierra died two days after being shot by Luis Fernando Soto, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison, explained El Tiempo.

The investigation against Dixon Tapasco, son of the politician and who also is accused of involvement in the case, was closed because of lack of evidence linking him to the killing of Sierra, according to Caracol Radio.

Other Related Headlines:
» El Tiempo (in Spanish) (Editorial: Justice for Orlando Sierra)