El Salvador Issues First Life Sentence Under New Criminal Law Reforms
El Salvador has handed down its first life sentence under new criminal law reforms enacted earlier this year. The Third Criminal Court of San Salvador sentenced Carlos Arturo Herrera Castro, 31, to life imprisonment for aggravated homicide and robbery. The crime occurred on May 18 in the Teosinte canton of Arcatao, where Herrera attacked Alexis López Córdova with stones, causing fatal injuries, and then stole his money. Witnesses testified to seeing Herrera counting money near the victim's body and offering them $10 to remain silent. The Attorney General's Office established Herrera's responsibility during the proceedings. These reforms, which took effect in April and became fully operational on May 14, allow for life imprisonment for exceptionally serious crimes such as homicide, rape, and terrorism. Previously, the maximum sentence was 60 years.
