Man Pleads Innocent in Bishop’s Slaying

The prime suspect in the killing of a Roman Catholic bishop appeared in court for arraignment and pleaded innocent. Police arrested Carlos Enrique Vielman after Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi was found in a pool of blood in the garage of his Guatemala City home, his head crushed by a wedge of cement. Vielman’s attorney said his client is so alcoholic that he does not clearly understand the case against him. Gerardi was killed two days after he presented a landmark report on atrocities committed by army forces and guerrilla fighters during 36 years of civil war in Guatemala. Human rights leaders called it a political assassination aimed at intimidating groups studying the conflict.