By Ingrid Bachmann
Luis Valdez Villacorta, acquitted in February because of a lack of evidence for the killing of Alberto Rivera, was released from prison in Lima, where he had been incarcerated for 21 months, in order to wait for another trial while under house arrest, reported EFE and La República.
Valdez, the ex-mayor of Pucallpa, had been tried as the mastermind behind the death of Alberto Rivera in 2004, and despite the pending case is a candidate for re-election, explained El Comercio. According to Andina, next week the National Elections Board will rule on an objection to his candidacy that was brought forward by a citizen.
Perú 21 reported that the prosecution will appeal the decision which granted parole, while La República explained the final court decision for the murder of journalist Rivera is still pending in the Supreme Court.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
