The trial concerning the 1975 murder of journalist Orlando Mart’nez Howley reopened yesterday, only to be postponed again until January 28 by Judge Katia Jiménez. Martínez had been critical of the Balaguer administration, but it is believed that he may have been assassinated because he was about to uncover in his column an economic scandal involving the State Sugar Council (CEA). In his famous biography, "Memories of a Courtesan," former President Joaqu’n Balaguer left a bank page (No. 295) about the case that he said would be filled in after his death. Attending yesterday were the five former military men standing trial retired generals Salvador Lluberes Montás ("Chinino"), Joaquín Antonio Pou Castro and José Isidoro Martínez, plus former military Rafael Alfredo Lluberes Ricart and Luis Emilio de la Rosa as well as all the witnesses subpoenaed to testify except Dr. Balaguer (pleading a health excuse), and a packed public gallery. In the short session, Judge Jiménez agreed to a request by the Public Ministry to excuse ex-general Isidoro Martínez from the proceedings on the basis of grave health problems attested to by doctors at the Plaza de la Salud, but she ordered him to recuperate in a psychiatric hospital instead of at home as his counsel requested. Judge Jiménez also ordered re-incarceration of ex-general Lluberes Montás in an Armed Forces jail. "Chinino" has threatened to conduct a hunger strike until he is released again. The judge adjourned the proceedings until January 28th in the hopes that the disposition if the DR’s extradition request for alleged trigger-man Mariano Durán Cabrera will be know by then.
