In 2002, Alberto Patishtan was convicted of murdering seven police officers during the Zapatista rebellion in southern Chiapas State. Patishtan was sentenced to 60-years in prison but human rights organizations have argued that Patishtan's trial was blemished with irregularities and other flaws that many have questioned. Patishtan has always maintained that he was not guilty of killing the seven officers and his lawyers have argued that the school teacher was nowhere near the scene of the crime when the officers were ambushed.
"I am innocent; this is not the place for me, it's not my home," Patishtan said in March when speaking to El Pais. "But I never think of the time left [in jail] but that sooner or later I will regain my liberty." Defense lawyers have also said they were not allowed to admit testimony that would show their client was not at the scene when the officers were killed. Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto says Patishtan will be pardoned under a new law that says someone may be pardoned if their human rights have been violated.
Mexico's president announced his intentions to pardon Patishtan via Twitter. The Mexican lower chamber of commerce passed the penal code reform early on Tuesday. Pena said that Patishtan will be pardoned on Thursday. The reformed law will also open the door for other pardons to be granted to those currently serving jail time. In Mexico it is a common occurrence for police to create or plant evidence or even torture suspects in order to get a conviction. In Mexico there are only a few crimes that are successfully investigated and prosecuted with the right defendant.
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