García Ibarra et al. v. Ecuador

In September 1992, sixteen year old José Luis García Ibarra was standing on a street corner with three of his friends, when the group was approached by two police officers. The officers and one of Mr. García Ibarra's friends engaged in a verbal altercation that escalated into physical blows. During the fight, one of the officers shot Mr. García Ibarra in the head, killing him. Mr. García Ibarra had not been involved in the altercation in any capacity. Mr. García Ibarra's family sought justice in the State domestic courts, but proceedings were unjustifiably delayed for nine years. The Court found the State violated the American Convention on Human Rights.

Case Summary: García Ibarra et al. v. Ecuador, Case Summary