The Honduran court found David Castillo guilty of the 2016 murder of a collaborator of the indigenous activist Berta Caceres.

The court ruled on Monday that an executive of a Honduran construction company was found guilty for his involvement in the 2016 killing of indigenous environmental activist Berta Caceres, a “victory” that supporters of Caceres considered.

David Castillo is the former head of Desarrollos Energeticos (DESA), which manages the US$50 million Agua Zarca hydroelectric dam project.

Cáceres, a long-time environmental activist and indigenous leader, was shot dead in 2016 at her home in the town of La Esperanza after leading an opposition to the project.

Lenca activists have stated that the project will severely disrupt their water and food supplies, and the builders did not consult with indigenous groups in the area.

Seven other men She has been convicted and sentenced for participating in the killing of her, which has aroused international condemnation and widespread calls for justice.

Castillo was initially accused of Mastermind The man behind the murder, but was convicted of accomplice on Monday. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 3.

Human rights groups claim that Berta Carceres has suffered years of threats and harassment from the Department of Economic and Social Affairs because of his activism [File: Elmer Martinez/AP Photo]

Cáceres has been engaged in environmental business since the early 1990s, starting with illegal logging, and won the prestigious Goldman Sachs Environmental Award for his organization’s efforts to boycott the dam.

Rights groups Say Dating back to at least 2013, Cáceres has been threatened and harassed by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs for many years.

The Expert Observer Group of the Coalition of International Human Rights and Legal Organizations, which has been following the trial, stated that the evidence provided showed that Castillo coordinated “long-term surveillance, harassment and threats” against Caceres.

Since the trial started three months ago, Thousands of supporters Has been gathering outside the courtroom, demanding that Castillo be convicted.

On Monday, a video on social media showed supporters of Cáceres cheering and applauding after the verdict was announced.

#Honduras This is the conviction of businessman David Castillo Mejía, the president #village Murder of Berta Cáceres.His daughter @BerthaZuniga1 Celebrating the verdict outside the national sentencing court #Tegucigalpa #LasQueLuchan

?? @GildateleSUR pic.twitter.com/a5Kgk99KN9

-Ruda (@ruda_gt) July 5, 2021

The Honduran People and the Council of Indigenous Organizations (COPINH), an indigenous rights organization founded by Cáceres, called the decision a “victory” for the Honduran people.

“This means that the criminal power structure has not corrupted the judicial system,” COPINH said Twitter.

Amnesty International, a human rights organization based in the United Kingdom, also welcomed the guilty verdict, but stated that Cáceres’ justice “will never be truly complete until all those involved in the crime, including those who plan the crime, are brought to justice. “.

“Until all those responsible are held accountable, other human rights defenders in Honduras will continue to lose their lives because they have raised their voices and defended the most vulnerable groups. The Honduran authorities must end impunity,” the organization’s director of the Americas Erika Guevara-Rosas said in a statement.

Last year, 20 human rights defenders were killed in Honduras. report Frontline Defenders discovered-making the South American country the third deadliest country in the world for activists.

According to advocacy groups, 14 land and environmental defenders were killed in 2019, up from 4 in the previous year Global Witness.