Ballistics tests on Paya weapon were negative

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.- The ballistic tests carried out on the barrel of the assault rifle that was supposedly used to kill six foreigners in the community of Paya in Peravia province, were negative, according to what a source told Diario Libre, which could complicate the case, called the biggest and most important "adjustment of accounts" that occurred in the country in the last 50 years.

And to this is added the statements by sailors that are being held in Najayo prison, and that say that they were offered US$200,000 to keep quiet about the mafia chiefs that acted in the killing of the seven Colombians, but they refused.

At the same time, there is talk that the only survivor of the horrible crime, Nicaraguan Orin Clinton Gomez Halford left the country some time ago.

All of this, added to a report that the Attorney General Radhames Jimenez has and that is supposed to be released soon which might complicate the case even further.

Now, it seems that the relatives of Frederick Medina Abud, the former major of the National Police involved in the killing of the seven Colombians in Paya, Bani, released a letter supposedly written by the only person to survive the massacre and which exonerates the former policeman.

The letter, hand written and full of writing mistakes, was supposedly sent to Medina Abud last 19 February by Nicaraguan Orin Clinton Gomez Halford. According to the letter, Gomez Halford attributed his identification of Medina Abud as one of the participants in the massacre was due to the fact that he was in a convalescent state.

Medina Abud is being held in the public jail at Najayo since last September after being remanded to protective custody for 18 months.

Together with Medina Abud, there are seven members of the Navy and six civilians; the former are accused of the commission of the crime and the latter for planning it.