Trial Prosecutor demands 14 years in prison for Sperisen

On Wednesday, the first public prosecutor, Yves Bertossa, asked the Geneva Criminal Chamber of Appeal and Revision to find Erwin Sperisen guilty of aiding and abetting the murder of prisoners in Guatemala. He demanded a prison sentence of 14 years for him.

Sperisen is on trial in Geneva for the fourth time. The former head of the Guatemalan National Civil Police is accused of having agreed to the liquidation of seven prisoners by a hit squad in 2006 as part of an operation to regain control of the Guatemalan prison in Pavon.

For the first public prosecutor Bertossa, there is no doubt that the former head of the Guatemalan police was aware of the activities of this death squad. The killer team had consisted of Erwin Sperisen's men. They included his lieutenant and his two personal advisors, he said.

The trial will continue on Wednesday afternoon, as the defense has announced that it will respond to the prosecutor's plea.