Trial begins in Peru for five accused in killing of an Amazon defender

A trial opens for five men accused in the November 2023 killing of Kichwa leader Quinto Inuma Alvarado, and prosecutors are seeking life sentences; the case is being watched as a test of Peru’s ability to prosecute violence against environmental defenders.

A criminal trial opens this week in Peru for five men accused in the killing of Kichwa leader Quinto Inuma Alvarado, who died in November 2023. He had repeatedly reported illegal activity in his community's territory. Prosecutors say the accused were linked to illegal logging and drug trafficking and are seeking life sentences. Indigenous groups and international observers are closely watching the proceedings as a potential test of accountability for attacks on environmental defenders. Key facts: - Quinto Inuma Alvarado, a Kichwa community leader, was killed on Nov. 29, 2023 after repeatedly denouncing illegal activity in his area. - Five suspects will face trial; a sixth person charged in the case died during an attempted arrest last year. - Prosecutors have brought contract-killing charges and are seeking life sentences, citing forensic tests and witness testimony as part of their case. - Inuma had been granted a state protection measure that was not implemented, and his family left their community after his death. Summary: If convictions include life sentences, legal experts and advocates say the case could set a rare precedent in Peru for prosecuting killings of Indigenous environmental defenders. International bodies, including the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and U.N. rapporteurs, have been monitoring the investigation and trial. The trial has now begun and the final outcome and any sentences are undetermined at this time.