Bogotá, Colombia, Jan 19, 2005 / 22:00 pm
A judge in the Colombian city of Cali has sentenced to more than 35 years in prison two of the men responsible for the murder of Archbishop Isaias Duarte Cancino, which took place almost three years ago.
Judge Ruben Dario Plaza sentenced Alexander de Jesus Zapata to 36 years and 7 months in prison for co-authoring the murder as well as for illegal possession of firearms. Likewise he sentenced John Fredy Jimenez to 35 years and 7 months as the other coauthor of the crime.
Archbishop Duarte was killed on March 16, 2002, outside the Church of the Good Shepherd in Cali, Colombia, after having celebrated Mass and presided at the marriage of almost 100 couples. He was 62 years old.
Authorities captured Carlos Augusto Ramirez, Alexander de Jesus Zapata and John Fredy Jimenez after they were identified by witnesses. Ramirez was murdered while he was being held at a prison in Palmira, near Cali.