On Monday, 27 June 2017, the First Collegiate Court of the National District remitted for Thursday, 29 June 2017 the opening of a background trial on the murder of the former president of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), Mateo Aquino Febrillet. The president of the Fenatrado truckers union, Blas Peralta, is accused of the murder. The rescheduling occurred after Peralta’s defense issued a formal objection, claiming that the judges have been colluding with the prosecutors.
Last week, the trial was delayed after the defense said the lead lawyer was suffering from conjunctivitis.
While the Court of Appeals decides whether the judge should be replaced, the court was adjourned with the next hearing was set for next Thursday. The presiding judge, Ingrid Fernández, said that there was no legal reason to replace the other judges, Claribel Nivar and Leticia Martínez.
In addition to Peralta, Rafael Herrera Peña, Gerardo Felix Bautista and Franklin Venegas Rivas are accused of being accomplices in the death of the professor.
Yeni Berenice Reynoso, National District prosecutor observed as she left the courtroom: “It is very easy to be fearsome on the streets and then cowardly in court.” She said that Peralta and his defense have done all that they can to prevent the start of the process to the point where the legal defenders are no longer his defense lawyers, but rather accomplices in the actions of the accused.
Read more in Spanish:
Hoy
El Caribe
El Nacional
27 June 2017
