Venezuela prosecutor: Protest victim 'killed by National Guard'

Venezuela prosecutor: Protest victim 'killed by National Guard'
24 May 2017

A student who died at an anti-government protest in Caracas last month
was killed by a tear gas canister fired by the National Guard,
Venezuela's chief prosecutor says.

Juan Pablo Pernalete died of cardiogenic shock after being hit by an
object in the chest.

A number of government officials had said he had been killed by hooded
men with a bolt gun.

Venezuela has seen almost daily anti-government protests since April.

The country's deepening economic and political crisis has led to
triple-digit inflation, a high crime rate and clashes between protesters
and security forces.

In a news conference, Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega said witness
statements and forensic evidence showed that Juan Pablo Pernalete had
been hit by a tear gas canister.

She said she hoped to be able to identify the officer who fired the
canister "in the coming days".

Firing tear gas canisters directly at protesters could be lethal and was
banned by both international and national regulations, she said.

Juan Pablo Pernalete's parents welcomed Ms Ortega's announcement,
describing it as a "positive first step".

Jose Gregorio Pernalete and Elvira Llovera told BBC News Online it was
"one of the first acts of justice for our son".

Officials including Information Minister Ernesto Villegas, Foreign
Minister Delcy Rodriguez and deputy leader of the governing socialist
PSUV party Diosdado Cabello had previously denied the National Guard was
responsible.

Mr Cabello had blamed "gunmen in the service of the bourgeoisie" and
insisted there were no National Guard personnel in the area at the time.

Ms Ortega, once considered an ally of President Nicolas Maduro, has in
the past months distanced herself from the government.

In March she said a Supreme Court ruling stripping the
opposition-controlled National Assembly of its powers broke the law.

She has also been critical of President Maduro's plans to convene a
citizens' assembly to rewrite the constitution.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-40037515