The judge of the National Court Manuel García Castellón has ordered the release with precautionary measures for the former leader of ETA Ignacio Miguel Gracia Arregui, Iñaki de Rentería, in the investigation for the kidnapping and murder of Miguel Ángel Blanco.
The investigating magistrate has prohibited the former ETA leader from leaving Spain, as well as from appearing every 15 days before the Court or the court closest to his home. The magistrate warns that failure to comply with the precautionary measures imposed would lead to decreeing his immediate admission to prison.
The decision comes the day after Iñaki de Rentería appeared by videoconference from San Sebastián. He refused to testify about the 1997 kidnapping and murder of a PP councilor in Ermua. His defense stressed that the surrender by France, where he was detained, did not include the authorization to be tried for that attack. The former ETA leader is free after having served all the sentences imposed on him in Spain.
In the appearance on Thursday, the defense also argued that he is already complying with precautionary measures for another cause in which he is also being investigated as members of the ETA leadership, which would make it unnecessary to reiterate the precautionary measures. The judge considers that they are different causes and rejects that argument.
The measures finally imposed were requested by Dignity and Justice, the AVT and the Popular Party, presented as popular accusations. The Public Prosecutor’s Office did not object, according to legal sources.
The National Court recently refused to consider the attack on Iñaki de Rentería prescribed, as claimed by the ETA member. The Chamber’s decision means that the judge will be able to conclude the investigation against him and that it will be the court in charge of the trial that will rule on the matter.
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