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El Salvador issues first life imprisonment sentence
El Salvador has issued its first life imprisonment sentence following recent constitutional and criminal law reforms. The Third Criminal Court of San Salvador sentenced 31-year-old Carlos Arturo Herrera Castro to life in prison for aggravated homicide and robbery.
The crime occurred on May 18, 2026, in the Teosinte canton of the Arcatao district, Chalatenango. Investigators determined that Herrera Castro attacked the victim, Alexis López Córdova, with stones during an argument before stealing the victim's cash.
The sentence is made possible by reforms approved by the Salvadoran Congress in early 2026, which removed the constitutional prohibition of life imprisonment for crimes such as murder, rape, and terrorism. Previously, the maximum sentence allowed in the country was 60 years. These legal changes were part of a broader security strategy led by President Nayib Bukele to combat gang violence.
Entities
Alexis López Córdova · Carlos Arturo Herrera Castro · El Salvador · Fiscalía General de la República · Nayib Bukele
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Life imprisonment can now be applied to murderers, rapists, and terrorists. lavozdelprm.org · www.ultimahora.com
- [DISPUTED] Herrera Castro attacked the victim, Alexis López Córdova, with stones during an argument. deultimominuto.com · lavozdelprm.org · www.ultimahora.com · calle56.com · www.telesurenglish.net
- [DISPUTED] The crime occurred on May 18, 2026, in the Teosinte canton, Arcatao district, Chalatenango department. deultimominuto.com · calle56.com · www.telesurenglish.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] The motive for the attack was to steal cash from the victim. deultimominuto.com · calle56.com · www.telesurenglish.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Third National Superior Criminal Court issued the first life imprisonment sentence in El Salvador. deultimominuto.com · lavozdelprm.org · www.ultimahora.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Carlos Arturo Herrera Castro, aged 31, was convicted of aggravated homicide and robbery. deultimominuto.com · lavozdelprm.org · www.ultimahora.com · calle56.com · www.telesurenglish.net
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Salvadoran Congress removed the constitutional prohibition of life imprisonment in April. lavozdelprm.org · www.ultimahora.com · calle56.com · tribunanoticias.mx
- [● 3 SOURCES] The previous maximum sentence was 60 years. lavozdelprm.org · www.ultimahora.com · tribunanoticias.mx
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Third Criminal Court of San Salvador issued the life sentence. calle56.com · deultimominuto.com · www.telesurenglish.net
- [● 6 SOURCES] The Attorney General's Office announced the first life imprisonment sentence in the country's history. calle56.com · deultimominuto.com · lavozdelprm.org · www.telesurenglish.net · tribunanoticias.mx · +1 more