"Suspects Acquitted in Shocking Murder of Sea Turtle Conservationist"

"[Last week], the seven men accused of brutally murdering Jairo Mora Sandoval on a beach in Costa Rica two years ago were acquitted of the crime. Mora's murder shocked the Central American country—long known for the progressive protection of its lush rainforests and sweeping beaches—but the judge who acquitted the accused cited reasonable doubt and a investigation marred by mistakes, including mishandled evidence. Judge Yolanda Alvaredo also acquitted the seven men of all additional counts, including sexual assault, kidnapping, and robbery.

'Lamentably the management of evidence broke the chain of proof in this case,' Judge Alvaredo said in the city of Limón, near where the murder occurred.

However, four of the accused will still serve prison time for a previous conviction of rape and robbery on the beach were Mora died."

Jeremy Hance reports for Mongabay January 27, 2015.