Eric is free. But this story isn't over.

It appears that Eric's acquittal is going to be appealed in Nicaragua. And the judges who ruled in favor of Eric are being investigated for corruption.

Here is a Declaration of Facts from Eric and his family. Check back tomorrow for a video that I will have of Eric explaining the situation in his own words.

Declaration of Facts
On December 21, 2007 at 2:00pm Central, after being declared innocent, then illegally imprisoned for five days, Eric signed the official Letter of Release. Although Eric is out of Nicaragua, the injustice of Doris’ death and Eric’s legal persecution continues.

Experience and gathered intelligence establishes a trail of violence and threats against Eric, his Nicaraguan attorney, and others in Nicaragua associated with this case. Eric remains in a secure location because of the danger of the situation and continues to take every precaution necessary to keep all involved out of harm's way.

Over the past 13 months, out of concern for Eric’s safety in prison and a very delicate appeals process, the results of a parallel investigation have been protected. Those days are over and the truth must come to light. In addition, Eric’s case has become so sensationalized by the Nicaraguan media through the use of filtered facts and manipulated reports that his release has once again stirred mob mentality and controversy and has now become part of the political agenda.

Details of Eric’s Release:

• In order to accurately understand the on-going nature of Eric’s case, it is imperative to know that he did not leave Nicaragua of his own volition. He was deported by order executed by the executive branch of the Nicaraguan government, not by order of the Appellate Court magistrates.
• The deportation was orchestrated by a faction of the Sandinista Party in Nicaragua, now in control of the executive branch of the government, so that the case could be taken to the Supreme Court in absentia (in Eric’s absence).
• As modeled after the US penal system, according to Nicaraguan criminal procedure established in 2001, it is illegal for a defendant to be tried in absentia.
• Three senior Appellate Court magistrates spent 9 months thoroughly studying the case file. Two ruled for innocence and the third ruled that the police investigation and trial process were so corrupted that the case must be annulled from its inception. None of the Appellate Court magistrates upheld the original decision by Judge Ivette Toruno Blanco, who found Eric guilty of first degree murder and assessed the 30 year prison sentence.
• Despite the Appellate Court’s ruling for innocence, and directive that Eric be released immediately, he was illegally held in prison for five days after their ruling; a direct violation of the Nicaraguan constitution and a grave violation of Human Rights and International Law. This has begun a dialogue and commentary provoking comments from Women’s right, Director of Human Rights, and President Daniel Ortega. The case has become imminently political and is being used as a platform for opposing political groups.

Subversion of Constitutional Law:

• In an effort to discredit the Appellate Court ruling and to further distract the public from the facts of Doris’ unsolved murder, Sandinista Supreme Court Justices, Rafael Solis and Alba Luz Ramos have initiated a rogue investigation, without the approval of the President of the Supreme Court. This is another violation of Nicaraguan law. We would support a fully informed investigation which includes a comprehensive study of the case file, but the nature of this investigation is both subversive and illegal.
• Sandinista officials have publicly demanded the arrest of the two Appellate Court magistrates who ruled for innocence. The Sandinistas are supporting the investigation in an effort to gain control of the Appeals Court in Granada by prosecuting and potentially imprisoning judges Estrada and Rodriguez, in order to gain control of the court and replacing them with Sandinista Magistrates.
• A parallel investigation establishes that the main perpetrator of Doris’ murder is from a powerful and influential Nicaraguan family who continues to be protected by high-ranking government officials instrumental in manipulating the outcome and consequences of the case. High ranking police officials and the district attorney’s office collaborated to protect the perpetrator and use Eric as a scapegoat.
• In a desperate attempt to satisfy public outcry and discredit the ruling in Eric’s favor, the same Supreme Court magistrates who are protecting one of the guilty murderers have initiated an investigation of the two Appellate Court magistrates who reversed Eric’s conviction. The hearing will be held January 8th or 9th to force a rapid conclusion to the investigation. This investigation is nothing more than a way to coerce judges and magistrates who want to be truly independent in their verdicts. These two Appellate Court magistrates have received death threats and Supreme Court Magistrate, Rafael Solis has threatened them with criminal sanctions and jail time.
• We hope that the Supreme Court of Justice in charge of the investigation doesn’t forget to investigate Judge Ivette Toruno and the Appellate magistrate, Norman Miranda, who physically hid Eric’s case file to prevent him from being released from prison after being declared innocent by the Appellate Court on Monday, December 17. We will be closely monitoring the progress of this investigation.

On-going Strategy:

• Eric’s legal team is studying every avenue available to redress the multiple injustices committed in the lower court, including pressing charges against those who contributed to Eric’s unjustified conviction.
• Regular updates will be posted on:
  Friendsofericvolz.com
  Amigosdeeric.com
• Leonel Teller, spokesman for the Liberal Party in Nicaragua stated, “The Liberal Party makes an urgent call to all Democratic political forces to sign an alliance agreement to unite and to take necessary measures because today it is Aleman, tomorrow Montealegre, day after tomorrow it can be any of you in the media or any leader. We are before the reestablishment of dictatorship.” They have arrested, convicted and taken 13 months from Eric Volz, of EP magazine.

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