CHILE’S Supreme Court upheld a decision on Wednesday to free on probation a former policeman imprisoned for the murder of three communists.

The highest court confirmed the decision by an appeals court in Santiago granting conditional freedom to Alejandro Saez. He had served 20 years of a life sentence for the murders.

Artist Santiago Nattino, teacher Manuel Guerreron and sociologist Jose Manuel Parada were abducted in 1985 during the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. Their bodies were found near Santiago airport with slit throats.

The victims’ families criticised the decision, arguing that it put human rights abuses on the same level as common crimes, and said they were considering appealing to international courts.

“I want to believe in our country, but days like today make it very hard,” said Mr Parada’s daughter Javiera.