Major Human Rights Conviction (Spain/Argentina: Scilingo)

SPAIN: ARGENTINE OFFICER CONVICTED
New York Times "World Briefings" 20 April 2005, p. A8


The National Court convicted Adolfo Scilingo, a former Argentine naval officer, of crimes against humanity during Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship. It was the first conviction under a law that allows courts here to prosecute crimes in other countries if they constitute violations of international law. Mr. Scilingo is expected to serve 30 years in prison. He admitted throwing dissidents from planes into the sea but later retracted the confession. Renwick McLean (NYT)

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Much more detailed article here:

'I don't try to justify myself'
The Guardian
Thursday April 21, 2005

This week a former Argentinian naval officer who threw 30 prisoners to their deaths from planes was jailed for 640 years. In court he protested his innocence, but Giles Tremlett recalls the day he heard his chilling confession [more at link]

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I just read these articles tonight after watching Polanski's film, [second link -- spoiler warning-->] Death and the Maiden... Great film, incredible coincidence. Netflicks it today while the news is still warm.