The Supreme Court of Chile has handed down a final sentence for the kidnapping and murder of the singer and political activist Víctor Jara, which took place in September 1973 during Augusto Pinochet’s coup d’état, and has confirmed the 25-year prison sentence against seven ex-military officers.

The Second Chamber of the court has indicated in a unanimous ruling that the convicted, now retired, are responsible for the crimes of kidnapping and qualified homicide of the singer-songwriter and the director of prisons Littré Quiroga Carvajal.

Two weeks after the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état, the Supreme Court has thus ratified the appealed ruling of the Santiago Court of Appeals, ruling out any errors in the sentenceaccording to a press release from the judicial body.

Those convicted are Raúl Jofré González, Edwin Dimter Bianchi, Nelson Haase Mazzei, Ernesto Bethke Wulf, Juan Jara Quintana and Hernán Chacón Soto, who They must serve 15 years and one day in prison. as the perpetrators of the homicides, and ten years and one day for the kidnappings.

In addition, Rolando Melo Silva must be five years and one day for covering up the murdersand three years and one day, for having concealed the kidnappings.

On the other hand, the Public Treasury must pay each of the plaintiffs, spouse and children of Quiroga Carvajal 150 million Chilean pesos (just over 160,000 euros), while its brothers must compensate them with 80 million pesos (86,400 euro). You will also have to pay 150 million pesos to the widow and children of Jara.

During the coup led by General Pinochet against President Salvador Alllende, on September 11, Jara was arrested along with other teachers and students and transferred to the Chile Stadium, which currently bears his name. there he went tortured for hours and was finally riddled with bullets.

In 2016, a United States court found former Chilean soldier Pedro Barrientos guilty of torture and extrajudicial execution of the artist, following a civil lawsuit filed by his family, forcing him to pay compensation for damages.