Guatemala court reduces murder sentences

GUATEMALA CITY, March 23 (UPI) -- Guatemalan courts have reduced the sentences of two former military officers convicted of killing a Catholic bishop, La Prensa Libre reported Wednesday.

Col. Byron Lima Estrada and his son, Capt. Byron Lima Oliva, had 10 years knocked off their 30-year sentences for the 1998 murder of Bishop Juan Gerardi.

In reducing the sentences, the courts said both men were "accomplices" to Gerardi's death. The bishop was killed with several blows to the head after presenting a report accusing the military of being the major perpetrators of all war crimes during the 1960-1996 military dictatorship.

Some 150,000 Guatemalans were killed during the regime.