Carlos D'Elia

General Carlos D’Elia was an Argentine horseman who competed at the five Olympics between 1956-72, placing fourth individually in jumping in 1964. He also competed at several World Championships, placing second at Venezia n 1960. He was a three-time Argentine Champion and won four silver medals at the 1951 and 1963 Pan American Games, two each in individual and one team jumping. His other victories included the 1967 Grand Prix de Roma and the 1965 Grand Prix de Gijón. D’Elia was in the military and his career benefitted from the 1955 military coup that deposed President Juan Peron and established a military dictatorship on Argentina. D’Elia served as Argentine Ambassador to Belgium and was the military attaché at the Argentine Embassy in the United States. He also served as President of the Argentine Equestrian Federation.

In 1975 D’Elia, by then having reached the rank of Brigadier General, was in charge of the 3rd Army Corps during Operativo Indepencia, an operation against left wing guerrillas in the province of Tucuman. Thirty-seven years later, the province of Cordoba decided to prosecute D’Elía for crimes against humanity for his actions. He was charged with illegal imprisonment, torture, homicide and attempted homicide. He died before a verdict was rendered.