Alfredo Astiz – Argentina 'Angel of Death' sentenced for life time Jail

Alfredo Astiz, ex-Argentine naval officer has been sentenced for life time imprisonment for crimes against humankind during army regime in 1976-83. 

Astiz - recognize as the "Blond Angel of Death" - was found culpable of violence, killings and forced disappearance.

Amid his sufferers were two French nuns and the originators of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo human rights group.

Eleven other past army and police officials were also awarded life time punishment for crimes against humanitarians.

Four others were locked up for between 18 and 25 years.

All served at the Naval Mechanical School in Buenos Aires - recognized as Esma - which was the largest hidden violence and killing centre established by the army during what became known as the "Dirty War".

Of the 5,000 or so detainees taken to Esma, 90% did not come out alive.

Some were murdered by firing squad while others were thrown from planes - drugged but still alive - into the Atlantic Ocean.

In excess of 70 of those who did make it out were amid the spectators in the 22-month investigation.

Astiz observed straight ahead and appeared no feelings as the punishment was read out.

Among the others given life terms are Jorge Acosta, Antonio Pernias and Ricardo Cavallo.

Human rights organizations had operated for years to bring the executors to justice, and there were celebrations as the punishment were read out.

"We opposed. We never committed a crime. This is why this is just. They committed crimes. They are jailed," said Esma survivor Ricardo Coquet.

Astiz, 59, is one of the most infamous signs of cruelty during army rule in Argentina.

As an immature naval intelligence officer he penetrated the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo human rights organization, which was established to locate relatives kidnapped by the military forces.

He then managed the abduction and killing of its three founders - Azucena Villaflor, Esther Ballestrino and Maria Ponce.

He had by now been criminal in absentia in France for the murder of the French nuns Alice Domon and Leonie Duquet, who lost in Argentina in 1977.

In his defense, Astiz said he had acted to protect Argentina from left-wing "terrorism", and he dismissed his investigation as an act of political retaliation.

Human rights groups say 30,000 people were murdered or made to left by the military forces in their operation against opposition protestors and left-wing rebels.