Reuters AlertNet Lite - Honduras gang members guilty of Xmas bus massacre

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Honduras gang members guilty of Xmas bus massacre

22 Feb 2007 05:29:38 GMT
Source: Reuters

TEGUCIGALPA, Feb 21 (Reuters) - A Honduran court convicted two members of the Mara Salvatrucha street gang for a Christmas Day bus massacre of 28 shoppers and commuters, considered the bloodiest moment in Central America's gang-led crime wave.

The court on Wednesday found Juan Miralda, known as "La Pantera," and Darwin Ramirez, or "El Chele Sula," guilty of several crimes including murder and attempted murder.

"They will sentenced on March 16 to a term of no less than 30 years in prison," said public prosecutor Benjamin Lavaire.

Six children were among the victims when half a dozen assailants armed with AK-47 and M-16 assault rifles opened fire on the bus in a gritty neighborhood of the northern city of San Pedro Sula on Dec. 23, 2004.

Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala are the countries worst affected by "Mara" street gang violence. The gang originated in Los Angeles.

All three countries have used police and soldiers to crack down on the tattooed youth gangs, with limited success.

The gang members are less visible on the streets than a few years ago, but murder rates in each country are still in the thousands every year.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• El Salvador profile
· View map

• Guatemala profile
· View map

• Honduras profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• The Road Less Travelled
GOAL - Ireland

• The UMCOR Hotline
UMCOR - USA

• Apply to Mercy Corps M&E Consultant Roster
Mercy Corps

• ADRA Combats Global Hunger
ADRA - International

MORE >>

Latest news

• Honduras gang members guilty of Xmas bus massacre

• FBI may investigate Salvadoran congressmen murder

• Cluster Munitions: Governments to Discuss New Treaty

• Three Salvadoran congressmen killed in Guatemala

• Tough tactics won't stop Latin American gangs -UN

MORE >>

Last updated:Thu Feb 22 05:30:21 2007