The Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project has posted on social media:
“’This guilty verdict represents progress because—yes, absolutely—this individual decided my sister’s fate and chose to take her away from our family. However, the impact on our family needs to be fully weighed, and the sentence imposed is minimal considering that impact.’
After 44 years of seeking justice for the 1982 enforced disappearance of student Luz Leticia Hernandez Agustín, and following four and a half months of trial proceedings, the Eighth Tribunal handed down its verdict today. The court established the criminal liability of the accused, Juan Francisco Cifuentes Cano, for the crimes committed against Luz Leticia and Ana María López Rodríguez, imposing a non-commutable 25-year prison sentence for the two victims. It did not find sufficient evidence to convict on charges of crimes against humanity.
#PBI stands with Luz Leticia’s sisters, who expressed their satisfaction: ‘Justice has finally been served for our sister; this also holds significance for the 45,000 people who went missing during the war in Guatemala.’”
Prensa Comunitaria has also reported: “The Eighth Criminal Court sentenced Juan Francisco Cifuentes Cano, former head of the Reaction and Special Operations Brigade (BROE), also known as the Fifth Corps of the extinct National Police, to 50 years in prison for the forced disappearance of Luz Leticia Hernández Agustín and Ana María López Rodríguez.”
PBI-Canada watched the court proceedings today via live-stream and provided context and almost hourly updates at: PBI-Canada watches the live-feed of the Criminal Sentencing Court verdict in the forcible disappearance of Luz Leticia in Guatemala (PBI-Canada, September 17, 2026).
The Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project has been accompanying the family of Luz Leticia for over 10 years.
