Guatemala abolishes the death penalty for ordinary crimes

According to the judges of the highest court, the death penalty violates the Constitution and international conventions such as the American Convention on Human Rights. Thus, it abolished capital punishment for the 5 following offenses: extrajudicial executions, kidnappings, parricides, enforced disappearances and assassinations.

Because this ruling cannot be appealed and is legally binding, judges will not able to challenge it. Although the death penalty still exists for military offences, the ruling of the Constitutional court acts as a first step towards a complete abolition of capital punishment in the country.