The First Chamber of the Court of Appeals of Santiago made a unanimous landmark decision on Tuesday to reopen the investigation into Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda’s death. This decision comes in relation to recent developments that cast doubt on the official cause of Neruda’s demise. A judge’s decision in December to reject reopening the case prompted an appeal.

The appeals court unanimously reversed the prior judge’s ruling, recognizing the necessity of conducting a thorough examination into Neruda’s death. They determined that the inquiry remained incomplete and called for protocols that could potentially aid in uncovering the truth. Consequently, the courtmandated several investigative steps, such as scrutinizing the death certificate through a handwriting analysis and conducting a comprehensive review of forensic test findings.

Pablo Neruda, a celebrated poet and political activist, passed away in 1973, just days after Chile’s US-backed coup which ousted the democratically elected leader Salvador Allende. Despite official assertions attributing his death to cancer, claims of foul play have persisted for decades. Allegations of poisoning, supported by forensic evidence, have fueled suspicions of political interference in Neruda’s death.

In February 2023, forensic experts from Canada, Denmark and Chile revealed evidence suggesting Neruda may have been poisoned over 50 years ago. The presence of Clostridium botulinum—a lethal toxin—in his remains contradicted the official narrative, prompting renewed calls for a thorough investigation.