3 Army Troops to Stand Trial in Venezuela for Protest Death

Caracas: Three military officers will stand trial over the death of a demonstrator who filmed police during a 2014 protest march against President Nicolas Maduro, prosecutors said on Saturday.

A Caracas court ruled Lieutenant Luis Amaya and Sergeants Luis Reyes and Jorby Penaloza would be tried for manslaughter and inappropriate use of a firearm in the death of systems engineer Jose Marquez.

District court 27 accepted the charge and officially launched the trial, prosecutors said.

Marquez, 45, died after being beaten following his arrest while filming with his cellular phone camera the National Guard's crackdown against demonstrators February 19, 2014. He was arrested and died in custody.

Forty-three people were killed and about 800 others injured in a series of protests against Maduro's elected government.

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This week, Venezuela extended a state of emergency in parts of its border with Colombia for another 60 days, saying the restrictions on civil liberties were needed to combat smuggling and crime.

The crackdown has come as the country heads into legislative elections December 6 amid a severe economic crisis and public disenchantment that have sent Maduro's approval ratings to 20 per cent.

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