3 soldiers convicted in Venezuela for protest death

The three officers are on trial for the death of a demonstrator shot the police during 2014 in protest against President Nicolas Maduro, prosecutors said Saturday.

The Court held in Caracas, Lieutenant Luis Amaya and Sergeant Luis Reyes Peñaloza JORBA convicted for murder and improper use of a firearm in the mechanical systems of the death of Jose Marquez.

The district court found 27 fee and formally opened an investigation, prosecutors said.

Marquez, 45, died after being beaten after his arrest while filming a mobile phone camera suppression of the National Guard against the demonstrators on 19 February 2014 he was arrested and died in prison.

Forty-three people were killed and about 800 injured in a series of protests against Maduro elected government.

This week, Venezuela has extended a state of emergency along the border with Colombia for another 60 days, saying that the Committee on Civil Liberties restrictions were necessary to combat the smuggling and crime.

Repression came as leaders on December 6 elections amid a severe economic crisis and public disillusionment that have been sent Maduro approval ratings of 20 per cent.