Prosecutors file murder charges against Jairo Mora’s alleged killers

On Monday, after more than nine months in preventive detention, the seven men suspected of participating in the killing of Costa Rican sea turtle conservationist Jairo Mora last May were formally charged with murder and a host of other offenses. 

All seven men — with the last names Aráuz, Cash, Centeno, Delgado, Quesada and two brothers with the last name Salmón — were charged with homicide, two counts of sexual abuse and four counts of kidnapping. Four of the defendants — the older Salmón, Quesada, Centeno and Cash — also were charged with rape in a separate incident.

A woman with the last name Delgado, who was in possession of Mora’s cellphone during a police raid in July, was charged with possession of stolen property.

Now that formal charges have been filed, a trial date will be set in coming months. The Limón Prosecutor’s Office has requested the trial be public.

For the full story of slain conservationist Jairo Mora, check out our story: Why Jairo died