Salemo Regime Trials
| Salemo Regime Trials | |
|---|---|
 Committee of Eight faces trial | |
| Court | Provisional Court for Crimes of the Past Regime |
| Decided | December 1, 1971 - September 11, 1972 |
| Case history | |
| Subsequent action(s) | 32 defendents executed, 23 imprisoned, 7 found not guilty, and 16 turned over to lower courts |
| Court membership | |
| Judge(s) sitting | Enrico Dandolo (Chief) Giogrio Conetti (Vice Chief) Marzio Varena Andrin Zalpa Alceu Calogera |
The Salemo Regime Trials (Arcadian: Prove di Regime in Salemo) were a series of military tribunals held after the Arcadian Civil War by Provisional and Secessionist forces. The trials were most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, judicial, and economic leadership of the Socialist Republic, who planned, carried out, or otherwise participated in domestic persecution of dissidents and citizens under the socialist regime.
The trials were held by order of the Provisional Executive Council from December of 1971 to September of 1972. It was described as "the greatest trial in Arcadian history" by Chief Justice (and future Senate Speaker) Enrico Dandolo, one of the Provisional judges present. The Court was given the task of trying 78 of the most important political and military leaders of the Socialist Republic. The trials were divided into three categories; Political, Military, and Persecution. Political trials targeted political leadership of the regime, Military trials targeted military leadership, and Persecution trials targeted those involved in the suppression of dissidents.
Of the 78 defendants, 62 were tried by the Court, with 16 being tried by lower courts. Of the 62 tried by the Court, 32 were executed by hanging, 23 were imprisoned (18 for life), and only 7 were found to be not guilty. Of the 7 found not guilty, 6 were revealed to have collaborated with and aided Provisional and dissident elements during the regime.
The most notable defendant was Venceslao La Torre, Chairman of the Military Commission and General Secretary of the Socialist Republic. La Torre was widely considered the leader of the Socialist Republic and his 9 month trial from December 1971 to August 1972 was considered the highlight of the trial. His execution on September 11, 1972 was the last execution and is considered to mark the end of the trials.