No military officer has ever been convicted in such a case.
Two officers have been convicted and five still face trial.
But no officer has ever been convicted in a political killing.
A further 12 officers were convicted and many others resigned.
So far, three officers have been convicted and another is under indictment in the case.
Despite sometimes intense American pressure for justice in major human rights cases, only one senior officer has ever been convicted.
Five officers have either pleaded guilty or been convicted, and one is to be tried later this month.
But no Salvadoran officer has ever been convicted of a human rights abuse.
The officers were later convicted by a federal trial.
The officer was convicted of misconduct and sentenced to three years in prison.