PANAMA CITY, (Reuters) – Panama’s supreme court on Monday set a trial date later this month for ex-dictator Manuel Noriega in a case alleging that the former strongman was involved in the kidnapping and murder of a political opponent in 1970.
The May 21 trial date aims to shed light on the disappearance and death of Heliodoro Portugal at a time when Noriega was the head of Panama’s now defunct national guard.
The 81-year-old Noriega was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.
Ezra Angel, Noriega’s lawyer, said in a phone interview that the trial would amount to a violation the defendant’s rights given the terms of his extradition years ago and believes that a new trial will not be convened.
