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LIVE: Indictment of John Cobin, US-born libertarian/right-winger for shooting a man in Reñaca, Chile. Charges of attempted murder & more. Victim says he was out shopping, crossed the street to find a bathroom. https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/manifestaciones/en-prision-preventiva-quedo-john-cobin-por-disparar-contra-manifestantes/2019-11-11/123112.html
Prosecutors add an "aggravating factor" of the violence being motivated by political animus. Cobin has previously spoken on YouTube in favor of shooting communists.
Prosecutors are using against him that he was a licensed gun owner, pointing out that licensing means he knew the responsibilities of gun ownership & what damage a gun can do.
I am watching this just wishing that US prosecutions of right-wing terrorists imparted a quarter this level of outrage.
Defense lawyer now up, saying that Cobin was freaked out by the demonstration, because he doesn't speak good Spanish. Dude has lived in CL for like 20 years. Going to be a tough defense, but the guy's making the most of it.
Defense is this wasn't attempted murder — dude is a good shot & if he had wanted to kill, he would have.
Judge wraps up the hearing saying there's no proof of any of the defense assertions, but there is proof that the guy shot at a crowd. Orders Cobin held before trial — not a common measure in Chile, and almost unheard of for a rich expat.
by the way, it's true that he renounced his citizenship https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/02/09/2017-02699/quarterly-publication-of-individuals-who-have-chosen-to-expatriate-as-required-by-section-6039g
Valparaiso paper says he can get 10 years in prison http://www.mercuriovalpo.cl/impresa/2019/11/12/full/cuerpo-principal/4/
