Defense lawyers involved in El Salvador's mass trials of alleged gang members say they have little ability to challenge the evidence against their clients, as the country begins processing thousands of people detained under President Nayib Bukele's four-year state of exception.
El País reviewed prosecution documents involving 1,226 defendants and interviewed 10 defense attorneys participating in the proceedings. The lawyers said they are often denied access to complete case files, receive details of the charges only days before trial and have been unable to challenge police records used as key evidence.
