Chile court drops tax evasion charges against Pinochet relatives News
Chile court drops tax evasion charges against Pinochet relatives

[JURIST] A Chilean appeals court has dropped tax evasion charges against the widow and two children of former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet [JURIST news archive]. In a decision Wednesday, the Santiago Court of Appeals [Chilean judiciary website, in Spanish] upheld charges against Pinochet's youngest son and two of his lawyers and also dropped other charges against Pinochet's relatives for acting as accomplices in the use of false passports.

Pinochet, his wife, four of his children, daughter-in-law, former attorney and secretary were indicted [PDF text] in early 2006 on charges of filing false tax returns [JURIST report]. Pinochet died [JURIST report] last month without ever facing trial in either the tax evasion case or on multiple human rights charges. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.