Costa Rica’s president says he is committed to solving “the cruel murder of Shannon Martin, which has caused so much pain. …”

Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco expressed that statement in a recent letter to Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway, KU announced today.

Pacheco’s letter, dated Feb. 24, arrived as two KU officials leave Tuesday for San Jose, where they will be briefed on the status of Martin’s case.

Martin, a KU student studying abroad, was stabbed to death in Golfito in May 2001.

Hemenway had earlier requested the meeting and asked President Pacheco to pursue “every available legal avenue” to solve the crime and bring Martin’s killer to justice.

Jeff Weinberg, assistant to the chancellor, and Diana Carlin, dean of the graduate school and international programs, will be in San Jose Wednesday through Saturday.

They will meet with Jorge Rojas, director of the Organization of Judicial Investigation, and Lineth Soborio, Costa Rica’s vice president. Soborio previously was director of the OIJ.

The KU officials will also deliver a letter from Martin’s family to Costa Rican officials.

Weinberg and Carlin had originally planned to meet with University of Costa Rica officials until President Pacheco’s letter arrived.

¢See past stories

KU and the University of Costa Rica have a 45-year-old exchange agreement, the oldest inter-university exchange in the western hemisphere.

The following is the full translated text of Pacheco’s letter:

February 24, 2003

Honorable Mr. Chancellor
Robert E. Hemenway
University of Kansas
Strong Hall
1450 Jayhawk Boulevard
Room 230
Lawrence Kansas 66045-7535
USA

Honorable Sir:

It is my pleasure to write you now, in response to your kind note of February 3.

My Government is committed to seeing that the cruel murder of Shannon Martin, which has caused so much pain, be solved as quickly as possible.

It is in that spirit that we have requested that the officials of the Agency of Judicial Investigation continue dedicating their best efforts to this matter and that they offer all their attention to Mr. Weinberg and Mrs. Carlin, during their visit to our country in March.

In the name of the People and Government of Costa Rica, I appreciate the repeated and sincere demonstrations of warmth that we have received, over so many years, from the distinguished University in your charge, and I would like to take this opportunity to send you my highest regards.

(signed) Abel Pacheco

Abel Pacheco de la Espriella

President of the Republic