Honduras: Bus massacre killers get 822-year prison term

Two Honduran gang members were sentenced to 822 years in prison each for opening fire on a bus and killing 28 people four years ago.

Juan Carlos Miranda, 22, and Darwin Alexis Ramirez, 23, received 675 years for killing 28 people, 135 years for trying to kill another 10 people, four years for being gang members and eight years for carrying an illegal weapon, according to prosecutor Cesar Alvarenga.

However Honduran law stipulates that no prisoner can serve more than 40 years.

The two men were accused of being among about 10 gang members who shot at a bus full of Christmas shoppers and commuters on December 23, 2004, in San Pedro Sula.

Officials said the attackers were angry at a government crackdown against gang members who were taking over neighbourhoods.

The attackers left messages directed at the government and warning against a proposal to institute the death penalty, especially for gang-related crimes.

Mr Alvarenga said police were still searching for the other suspects in the shooting.