Pinochet Ruled Unfit for Trial

S A N T I A G O, Chile, July 9 -- Chile's Augusto Pinochet — the archetypal Cold War military dictator — was declared mentally unfit today to stand trial for deathsquad killings shortly after his 1973 coup, likely ending efforts to prosecute him.

The Appeals Court ruled that Pinochet, 85, suffers fromsuch severe dementia that he cannot be prosecuted on charges ofcovering up 75 murders by the "Caravan of Death," an army unitthat toured northern Chile by helicopter, eliminating suspectedleftists.

The decision can be appealed but few in Chile now believePinochet will ever appear in court because of thetime-consuming appeals process, the ex-general's age and thebitterness of his 1973-1990 rule in Chile.

"I think, unfortunately, that this is as far as thePinochet case goes," prosecution lawyer Juan Bustos toldreporters.

Other Cases Expected to Crumble

Legal experts say some 250 other human rights cases againstPinochet are now likely to crumble.

One of the former dictator's sons expressed relief afterthe decision was announced. Pinochet is believed to havediabetes and aides say he has suffered at least two strokes inrecent years.

"I hope with this ruling that our father can have a littlemore peace during what is left of his life," Marco AntonioPinochet told Chilean radio.

Overall, interest in trying Pinochet has dwindled in Chileas the legal wrangles have drawn out.

There was little sign of protest on the streets of Santiagotoday, in contrast to angry demonstrations for and againstPinochet during his detention in London.

Still, human rights campaigners said Chile had failed tolive up to promises made abroad to try Pinochet for thekillings or "disappearances" of more than 3,000 people. Another30,000 were tortured.

Just a Strategy to Avoid Prosecution?

Joan Garces, a Spanish lawyer who represented families ofvictims of Chile's dictatorship, said a medical report showingPinochet suffered from dementia seemed to be part of the sametactic used by his defense team after his 1998 arrest inLondon.