Reynaldo Bignone Causa Nº 2047 / Campo de Mayo Trials

This case summary is being revised and will be updated soon

Court	Federal Criminal Oral Tribunal No. 1 of San Martín, Argentina
Case number	2047
Decision title	Verdict
Decision date	12 March 2013
Parties	Santiago Omar Riveros Reynaldo Antonio Benito Bignone Eugenio Guañabens Perello Luis Sadi Pepa Eduardo Oscar Corrado Carlos Tomas Macedra Miguel Castagano Monge Julio San Roman Carlos Del Señor Hidalgo Garzon Maria Francisca Morillo Public Prosecutor
Other names	Campo de Mayo (3)
Categories	Crimes against humanity
Keywords	crimes against humanity, murder, torture, Campo de Mayo, Dirty War, disappearances
Links	Verdict (in Spanish)

Summary

Reynaldo Bignone, born in 1928, was the de facto president of Argentina from 1982 to 1983 and the last dictator to hold power in the country. As such, he was appointed by the military junta and sought to impose amnesty laws for perpetrators of gross human rights violations before transferring power to the democratically elected Raul Alfonsin. Nevertheless, in 2005 the Argentinean Supreme Court overturned these amnesties and opened the way for prosecutions of those involved in the country’s 1976-1983 “Dirty War”. Since then, Reynaldo Bignone was charged and convicted of crimes against humanity in several trials on the basis of his involvement in the Dirty War.

In the current case, Bignone was sentenced to life imprisonment for his participation in 20 cases of illegal deprivation of liberty, robbery, torture and murder.

Procedural history

On 5 February 2013, a third case began before the Federal Criminal Oral Tribunal No. 1 of San Martín.

Legally relevant facts

Reynaldo Bignone, born in 1928, was the de facto president of Argentina from 1982 to 1983 and the last dictator to hold power in the country. As Argentina’s last dictator, Mr Bignone was appointed by the military junta and sought to impose amnesty laws for perpetrators of gross human rights violations before transferring power to the democratically elected Raul Alfonsin. Nevertheless, the amnesties were overturned in the Julio Héctor Simón case by the Argentinean Supreme Court, opening the way for prosecutions of those involved in the country’s 1976-1983 “Dirty War.” Since then Reynaldo Bignone was charged and convicted of crimes against humanity in several trials on the basis of his involvement in the Dirty War.

The “Campo de Mayo” was a military area outside of Buenos Aires, which between 1976 and 1980 was divided into four different secret detention and torture centres: El Campito, La Casita, La Prisión Militar de Encausados and El Hospital Militar. The area was under the control and command of the Command of Military Institutes (Comando de Institutos Militares), which was led by Reynaldo Bignone, among others.

Court's holding and analysis

On 12 March 2013, Reynaldo Bignone was again convicted for his participation in 20 cases of illegal deprivation of liberty, robbery, torture and murder. The Tribunal once more sentenced him to life imprisonment.