Bleak House, only bleaker

Dear Friends:

Caught the 8 am bus to La Plata this morning, with Anthro grad in tow. Got to the bus station 7:51; arrived at La Plata's Municipal Hall just about 10 am, maybe a little earlier. Signed in, got our credentials, made friends with a few people and headed upstairs for the hearing. Everyone was friendly and helpful and things weren't nearly as difficult as we had anticipated. Testimony started around 11 am, with the occasional break -- heard a total of 3 witnesses. Things pretty calm; most of the craziness transpired yesterday, the very first day of the trial. Early on there were a few loud cries of "psychopath!" from the audience, but those died down. Home around 6:30 pm or so, where my doorman (Mario) filled me in on the day's World Cup.

The defendant in question did not appear in court today, claiming physical incapacity. Instead, a very Dickensian defense counsel appeared on his behalf, with bodyguards.

Of course, there was very vivid and unsettling testimony on what went on in the detention centers. At one point, the first witness told of a young man who, every time he returned to the cell, returned without something (fingers, toes, etc.) until there was pretty much nothing left. This was too much for one of the Madres, who quietly left the hearing in tears. There was also graphic testimony with regard to what the torturers did to women. And, in an even more macabre turn (if that is possible), two of the witnesses related how they were given human remains -- bones, body parts, and skulls -- to "clean". One woman was give a pair of male hands. She remembered, she said, he had on a silver wedding band.

Going back tomorrow and probably will continue until Wednesday of next week, when another set of hearings begin here in BA on another well known case. It was a long, long day and I'm incredibly tired!

(Will put a few additional photos on Blogo.)

The day's articles on the hearings:

-La Nacion
-Clarin
-Pagina 12
-NYTimes

B.