Trial for Murder of Lindsay de Feliz

[MariaRubia]

I haven’t posted on here for a long time, I had a telephone call with MP Jess Phillips who is the shadow minister for domestic violence and has spoken passionately about British women murdered by their partners. She contacted the foreign office asking them for help in making the UK presence felt at the trial. Sadly they haven’t responded as yet.

If I could have been at the trial I would have been as he really doesn’t scare me at all but financially and with my children it’s just not possible. I have submitted a statement in Spanish to the prosecution via Lindsays family but all I can do know along with you all is wait and hope for justice (whatever that means these days).

Even if he is found guilty there needs to be continued pressure and monitoring to make sure they stay in prison, because sadly being sentenced there doesn’t mean a thing.

I think it's wonderful that you did this LauraJane. Great idea.

 

[laurajane]

I’m anxiously waiting for some feedback from today and presume this feed might be the only way I get it. Thank you in advance to anyone who attended today and reports back.

 

[whirleybird]

I’m anxiously waiting for some feedback from today and presume this feed might be the only way I get it. Thank you in advance to anyone who attended today and reports back.

I have also been waiting with 'bated breath' alongside my photo of Linds and Chiv, fresh vase of flowers cut from the garden by Margo and Tuly this morning + a lovely lit candle (when it didn't blow out!) and now a small Brugal with glass raised to Lindsay just now in the hope of hearing an update on today's events in the court.

Like LauraJane, I hope we get some feedback soon.

 

[laurajane]

Delayed again until March 31st

No Jury

Defence applying for bail next week

 

[MariaRubia]

Delayed again until March 31st

No Jury

Defence applying for bail next week

Please can you explain what you mean by "No Jury" - I thought that Dominican trials never had juries.

 

[laurajane]

Just saying there is no jury, I wasn’t aware that was typical.

 

[AlterEgo]

Just saying there is no jury, I wasn’t aware that was typical.

Never a jury in DR, only a judge.

It was postponed (again!) due to witnesses not being in the courtroom, so they were unable to proceed.

 

[Auryn]

Which “witnesses”? To the murder or to vouch for her character?

I’m just thinking out loud here. Would a petition with a significant amount of signatures, advocating for justice have any influence on the court? Or the media.

 

[dulce]

I feel so sad for Lindsey's family and friends.

 

[Howeller63]

Delayed again until March 31st

No Jury

Defence applying for bail next week

Why no jury? Crazy as expected.

 

[Howeller63]

Never a jury in DR, only a judge.

It was postponed (again!) due to witnesses not being in the courtroom, so they were unable to proceed.

Do we know who these witnesses are? Excuses always very sad.

 

[Howeller63]

Delayed again until March 31st

No Jury

Defence applying for bail next week

If they get bail someone's paying/bribing someone how ridiculous.

 

[JD Jones]

Delayed again until March 31st

No Jury

Defence applying for bail next week

Is there a date for the bail hearing? That's the one where the judge should feel the presence of supporters against bail.

 

[MariaRubia]

Why no jury? Crazy as expected.

That is the legal system in DR. All trials are decided by a Judge, there are no juries. A lot of the time they consider the evidence in writing before the trial takes place and the trial is pretty much decided as they walk in the door. And there are a lot of accusations of unfairness.

Nicole Reyes (now there's a blast from the past for some of the older DR1'ers) is a British woman who was found guilty of murdering her husband Jorge in a trial in Puerto Plata in 2014. The murder trial lasted just 2.5 hours, she wasn't allowed to give evidence (at her own trial!) and then was convicted. But subsequently they gave her bail (after finding her guilty of murder remember), and "accidently" forgot to stamp her passport to stop her leaving the country, so she went to the airport and went back to the UK. That's how Dominican justice works.

Nicole Reyes sentenced to 12 years in Dominican Republic for killing husband

Welsh mum Nicole Reyes was jailed for 12 years for 'voluntary manslaughter' of her husband. Reyes was accused of deliberately running over her husband in her SUV as he rode beside her on a motorbike

www.walesonline.co.uk

 

[MariaRubia]

Which “witnesses”? To the murder or to vouch for her character?

I’m just thinking out loud here. Would a petition with a significant amount of signatures, advocating for justice have any influence on the court? Or the media.

It might get the British Embassy in the DR and the UK Foreign Office to pull their finger out, but it would need a few thousand signatures. I think the family would be well advised to get a good PR company on the case at this point and to try to get the maximum publicity for this. The DR doesn't like a light being shone into it's dark corners, puts people off from booking their AI holidays and we all know that's what Mr Abinader and Mr Collado care about most of all.

 

[Jan]

Question? Does he still own the house, the place that was sold in Juan Dolio and the property in Barahona and have access to the money? If so he could easily pay for bail and pay the judge.

 

[AlterEgo]

Is there a date for the bail hearing? That's the one where the judge should feel the presence of supporters against bail.

There have been several already, all denied or postponed. Last one was this past Tuesday.

 

[JD Jones]

There have been several already, all denied or postponed. Last one was this past Tuesday.

Yes, I'm aware of that. According to laurajane, the next hearing is Mar 31, but there is a bail hearing next week.

Do we have a date for the bail hearing besides next week?

A lot hinges on the bail hearing. They get bail, and there goes the urgency of having another hearing. They're out on bail, and the case can be postponed forever and life goes on. Don't doubt that for a second.

The bail hearing is the one folks here have to be focused on.

 

[AlterEgo]

Yes, I'm aware of that. According to laurajane, the next hearing is Mar 31, but there is a bail hearing next week.

Do we have a date for the bail hearing besides next week?

A lot hinges on the bail hearing. They get bail, and there goes the urgency of having another hearing. They're out on bail, and the case can be postponed forever and life goes on. Don't doubt that for a second.

The bail hearing is the one folks here have to be focused on.

The bail hearing was originally scheduled for February 25th, but they moved it to February 15. The problem, as I understand it, is that they never notified the attorneys representing Lindsays family about the hearing date, so they weren’t there. Judge postponed. I’ll see if I can find out the exact date of next bail hearing.

Edit: the next bail hearing is February 25th.

 

[kcdmps]

The accused are probably guilty based on the information available, but they are guaranteed "timely" justice. Delays can be used by the defendant as the bases for requesting bail (or that charges be dropped).