Chile's Supreme Court has ruled that murder and kidnapping charges against Augusto Pinochet can move forward, an unprecedented decision that brings the ex-dictator one step closer to trial in a major human rights case.
The Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision to throw out a defence motion that argued Mr Pinochet (89) is not mentally alert enough to defend himself, a court official said.
However, the defence will still have other opportunities to block the trial.
The high-court's five-judge criminal panel voted 3-2 in the ruling against Mr Pinochet, who has never been put on trial for human rights violations under his 1973-1990 rule, despite several high profile cases against him.