Judge gunned down in Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

Judge gunned down in Colombia
Irish Sun
Friday 23rd April, 2010
(IANS)

A criminal court judge was killed Thursday in the northwestern Colombian city of Medellin while waiting for a taxi, police said.

The suspected shooter of Judge Diego Fernando Escobar Munera fled the scene on a city bus, but was captured minutes later by police, Col. Adan Leon said.

Escobar, 45, spent 19 years in the judiciary and authorities are investigating the possibility that his murder was connected with one of the numerous cases he handled.

Another criminal court judge was gunned down last month outside his Bogota home by gunmen travelling on a motorcycle.

President Alvaro Uribe issued a statement denouncing the murder of Escobar and vowing not to permit a resurgence of the kind of of violence against judges that was common in Colombia in the 1980s and '90s.

http://story.irishsun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/88176adfdf246af5/id/626379/cs/1/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombian authorities reveal plot to assassinate Supreme Court judges

Colombian authorities reveal plot to assassinate Supreme Court judges
Thursday, 04 March 2010 10:03 Brett Borkan

Colombian authorities revealed Thursday that they are investigating assassination plots against three Supreme Court judges, including the former head of the court, Augusto Ibañez.

Police captured two alleged assassins close to the homes of one of the three judges in the north of Bogota, El Tiempo reported. One of the assassins was reported to be carrying a pistol equipped with a silencer.

In addition, a suspicious vehicle containing firearms was recently found near the home of another of the targeted judges.

Authorities said that they have also intercepted various communications involving the group of assassins.

Assassination targets Ibañez, and Judges Javier Zapata and Jorge Luis Quintero Milanes, who were set to vote on a new prosecutor general, suspended their session, while police develop a special security plan to ensure for their protection.

Demobilized paramilitary leader "Ban Ban", who is cooperating with authorities before the Justice and Peace tribunal, allegedly revealed the assassination plots to the authorities three weeks ago.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/8532-assassination-plot-against-supreme-court-judges-revealed.html

[Wilms]

2. :( K&R n/t