El Salvador delays 1989 Jesuit massacre trial to 2027

A court in San Salvador has postponed the trial regarding the 1989 massacre of six Jesuit priests and two women until April 5, 2027. This marks the third delay for the proceedings.

The postponement follows the failure of two retired generals to appear in court, with defense attorneys citing health concerns. The Institute of Forensic Medicine is expected to assess these medical claims.

Eleven defendants face charges including murder, procedural fraud, and concealment. The accused include former President Alfredo Cristiani, who remains at large, and Colonel Inocente Orlando Montano. Montano was previously extradited to Spain and sentenced to over 133 years in prison for his role in the killings, though he later received parole due to his health.

The 1989 massacre occurred at the Central American University (UCA) campus and remains a significant legal effort to hold high-ranking military and political figures accountable for atrocities committed during the Salvadoran Civil War.