DATE=5/6/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-231819 TITLE=GUATEMALA/BISHOP (L-ONLY) BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE DATELINE=SAN JOSE CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A GUATEMALAN JUDGE HAS ORDERED A SUSPECT TO BE HELD IN PRISON PENDING FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE RECENT KILLING OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE HAS MORE FROM THE V-O-A CENTRAL AMERICA BUREAU. TEXT: A 24-YEAR-OLD GUATEMALAN MAN HAS BEEN ORDERED TO REMAIN IN JAIL WHILE AN INVESTIGATION PROCEEDS INTO HIS ALLEGED ROLE IN THE APRIL 26TH KILLING OF BISHOP JUAN GERARDI. JUDGE JORGE FIGUEROA ISSUED THE ORDER AFTER THE SUSPECT CARLOS ENRIQUE VIELMAN, PLEADED INNOCENT AT HIS ARRAIGNMENT. JUDGE FIGUEROA SAYS PROSECUTORS HAVE PRESENTED SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO KEEP MR. VIELMAN IN DETENTION. TWO WITNESSES HAVE IDENTIFIED MR. VIELMAN FROM POLICE PHOTOS AND HE WAS ARRESTED LAST WEEK. BUT DOUBTS ARE BEGINNING TO ARISE ABOUT HIS PHYSICAL ABILITY TO COMMIT THE CRIME. WITNESSES SAY THE KILLER WAS ABOUT ONE METER, 75 CENTIMETERS TALL, WHILE MR. VIELMAN IS SHORTER, STANDING JUST OVER ONE METER AND A HALF. BISHOP GERARDI WAS NEARLY TWO METERS TALL. POLICE SAY THE BISHOP WAS KILLED BY REPEATED BLOWS TO THE HEAD WITH A JAGGED PIECE OF CONCRETE. MR. VIELMAN HAS TOLD GUATEMALAN REPORTERS HE IS AN ALCOHOLIC AND WAS OUT DRINKING ON THE NIGHT OF THE KILLING. MR. VIELMAN'S POLICE FILE INCLUDES PREVIOUS ARRESTS FOR RAPE, ASSAULT, DRUNKENNESS AND INDECENCY. HE HAS NO RECORD OF MILITARY SERVICE. POLICE HAVE NOT OFFERED A MOTIVE FOR THE BISHOP'S KILLING. HIS SUPPORTERS SUSPECT THERE ARE POLITICAL MOTIVES BECAUSE BISHOP GERARDI HAD JUST RELEASED A HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON GUATEMALA'S 36-YEAR CIVIL WAR DETAILING ALLEGED MILITARY ATROCITIES AGAINST INDIAN COMMUNITIES. (SIGNED). NEB/MWD/ENE/KL 06-May-98 5:36 PM EDT (2136 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
