Police chief sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempted murder in Costa Rica
A Costa Rican court has sentenced a police chief, identified as Miranda Morales, to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of the crime of attempted aggravated homicide. The incident occurred in October 2019 in Costa de Pájaros, Puntarenas, when the officer fired twice at a man who was in police custody.
The Puntarenas Deputy Prosecutor’s Office managed to prove during the trial that the use of the service weapon by the officer was not justified under any circumstances. The incident took place while the agents were waiting to carry out a raid; at that moment, the detainee, who was already handcuffed with his hands behind his back, attempted to flee by running.
The court determined that the officer’s actions were not proportional, as the detainee did not pose an immediate threat to the physical integrity of the officers or third parties at the time of the shots.
Details of the assault and the judicial process
According to the reports submitted, one of the projectiles struck the victim’s thorax, causing serious injuries that compromised their digestive system. The court was emphatic in pointing out that, as the subject was handcuffed and fleeing with their back turned, the use of lethal force was an excessive action and contrary to police operational protocols.
- Sentence: 12 years in prison for attempted qualified homicide.
- Precautionary measures: The convicted person must report periodically to the authorities and is prohibited from leaving the country until the sentence becomes final.
- Background: Miranda Morales had more than two decades of service and held the position of chief of the Chomes Public Force Delegation at the time of the incident.
It is important to highlight that, in parallel, the person who received the shots also faced their own judicial process, being convicted for the homicide that led to their initial arrest in 2019. However, judicial authorities clarified that both cases are independent and correspond to distinct criminal responsibilities.
This case sets a significant precedent regarding the limits on the use of force and state responsibility when an individual is in custody. The ruling must still complete the necessary procedural stages for its final execution, with the process remaining under case file number 19-001686-431-PE.
