Mexico City - Raul Salinas de Gortari, (right) brother of the former Mexican president, Mr Carlos Salinas, was found guilty of masterminding the death of his former brother-in-law and sentenced to 50 years in prison on Thursday, in a verdict considered a triumph for current president Ernesto Zedillo, Michael McCaughan writes.
"It couldn't have been any worse," said Mr Juan Velazquez, Salinas's lawyer, who immediately appealed the verdict.
"This decision increases the prestige and credibility of president Zedillo," commented Mr Ignacio Morales Lechuga, a former attorney general. "The evidence was weak and everything points to a political settlement." The case lasted four years and was riddled with contradictions. The first prosecutor in the case, the victim's own brother, fled the country shortly before he was accused of covering up Raul Salinas's involvement in the killing. Key witnesses acknowledged huge payoffs from prosecutors and the only material witness, Manuel Munoz Rocha, disappeared without a trace. There was no confession and no motive established beyond "family differences", in a case which many believe involved as yet unknown political motivations.
David Shanks adds:
The Dublin telephone number of Mr Carlos Salinas de Gortari, Raul Salinas's brother, was yesterday "not in service". The Mexican embassy could not confirm media reports that Mr Salinas now lives in Havana. His Dublin solicitor would not, but agreed to pass on a message. Another report said he was on his way to Jamaica, but then it appeared he had not boarded the flight. Cuba said it had no information. The Dublin embassy has over the almost four years of the Salinas residency in Ireland professed to knowledge only of those activities of Mr Salinas related to his testimonies at the embassy in the case against his brother, and routine consular business.