A court sentenced an Argentine former army officer to life in prison for the kidnapping, torture and killing of four leftist activists in the Revolutionary Worker's Party in 1977, Telam, the Argentine National News Agency reported.

80-year-old Luciano Benjamin Menendez was found guilty along with seven others crimes. He was the leader of the regional Third Army Corps in Cordoba for half a decade during Argentina's military rule between 1976 and 1983 and was commander of one of the regime's most well-known torture centers.

According to the official figures, an estimated 13,000 people were killed throughout the period of dictatorship, one of the darkest episodes of Argentine history. However, human rights organizations insist the real number is closer to 30,000, The Associated Press said.

Prior to the court sentencing, Menendez read a declaration in front of television cameras in the courtroom saying the regime's domination had found justification facing the leftist militant threat. "We had to take appropriate measures," said the ex-military leader. Activists began protesting and one of them had to be taken out from the courtroom because he shouted “genocide.”

Benjamin Menendez was already under house arrest for preceding "dirty war" convictions. Family members and friends of the man were present in court, some of them crying, others simply waiting for the verdict to be reached, reported BBC’s Daniel Schweimler. He also said that a mass of people watched on a huge screen outside the courthouse. After yesterday’s conviction and sentencing, Menendez is to be transferred to a penitentiary.