Outrage over early-release plea for Colombian serial killer who murdered at least 190 children
- Luis Alfredo Garavito was jailed in 2000 for murdering dozens of young victims
- Garavito denied early release, despite his reported ‘exemplary’ behaviour in prison
A proposal to grant early release from prison to one of the world’s most prolific serial killers has raised outrage in Colombia and a denunciation on Monday from President Ivan Duque.
Luis Alfredo Garavito confessed to killing about 190 children, most aged 8 to 16 and received more than 50 long sentences. Prosecutors said sometimes posed as a beggar or a monk and lured poor children with money and soft drinks. He later slit their throats, sometimes after torturing and raping them.
But Colombia limits prison sentences to 40 years and allows early release for good behaviour after more than half a sentence is served.
The television show Los Informantes revealed on Sunday that the national prison institute had asked a judge in May to grant Garavito provisional release because of his “exemplary” behaviour in prison.
A judge denied the request because Garavito, now 64, had not paid a fine for his victims of roughly US$41,500.
“I have profound indignation at the possibility that anyone would suggest that that beast leave prison,” Duque said in Glasgow, Scotland, where he was attending the UN climate conference.
“The national government neither sponsors or supports that,” he added.
