Nicaragua: Protests, murders and cover-ups

Violent anti-Government protests across Nicaragua left hundreds dead in 2018. Two parents share the story of how their sons were caught in the fight – and how they were blamed for an impossible murder.

Watch Above: Dateline partnered with SBS Spanish to bring you this special report.

Warning: Graphic content

‘A person in a coma in hospital? How can he participate in a criminal act?’

Gamaliel Leiva is speaking about his late son, Ezequiel. Ezequiel was one of the thousands of young Nicaraguans who took to the streets in April 2018 protesting increased taxes and decreased benefits imposed by President Daniel Ortega.

In May, when the protests had become more violent, Ezequiel was shot by a sniper. The next month, while he was still in hospital, he was charged with the murder of American citizen Sixto Henry Vera.  

"The only thing he was doing was working, defending the very same situation that is the oppression of the people," Gamaliel adds.

"He is a victim. He is a victim who was murdered by the Government."

Read more from SBS Spain here.