Count von Spreti was the second foreign ambassador to be murdered in Guatemala following the death of US ambassador John Meir who was killed during a kidnap attempt in 1968.
Guerrillas of the Rebel Armed Forces (FAR) were blamed for Mr Meir's death and the kidnap of other foreign diplomats in the country.
Humanitarian groups estimate that between 1954 and 1982 approximately 80,000 people died as a result of the fighting between military governments and rebels.
In particular, the regime of General Efrain Rios Montt was blamed for massive human rights abuses.
In the mid-1980s Guatemala began a successful transition from military to civilian rule but the military retains considerable political power.