David Babelo Crespo has spent 2 years in prison awaiting verdict

Friday 14 September marked the second anniversary of David Rabelo Crespo's detention on charges of aggravated murder. Two years after his arrest David Rabelo Crespo still awaits a final verdict in the trial against him.

David Rabelo Crespo is the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Corporación Regional para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos – CREDHOS (Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights), and a member of the Magdelena Medio branch of the Movimiento de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado – MOVICE (Movement of Victims of State Crimes). The final verdict is expected in the next few weeks.

Mr Alirio Uribe Muñoz, defence lawyer for David Rabelo Crespo, called for the human rights defender's acquittal highlighting the fact that throughout the trial there has been evidence of numerous changes and contradictions in the versions of events given by key prosecution witnesses, evidence of attempts to bribe witnesses and a sustained attempt to stigmatise the defendant.

David Rabelo Crespo was arrested on 14 September 2010 by members of the Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación de la Fiscalía – CTI (Technical Investigation Division of the District Attorney's office), and accused of the 1991 killing of the Secretary for Public Works of Barrancabermeja, Mr David Nuñez Cala.

The charges came about as a result of accusations that were made against David Rabelo Crespo by members of the paramilitary group Autodefensas Unidas de Santander y Cesar – AUSAC (Self-Defence Units of Santander and Cesar), Mr Mario Jaimes Mejía and Mr Fremio Sánchez Carreño.

Prvious Front line Defenders Appeal on behalf of David Rabelo Crespo