Third trial set in beheading deaths of three children

[Baltimatt]

Murdered in 2004

A date has been set for the third trial of two men, illegal immigrants from Mexico, charged with murder in the deaths of three young relatives in a Baltimore apartment in 2004. Policarpio Espinoza Perez, 29, and Adan Espinoza Canela, 24, also again pleaded not guilty Thursday. They have been held in custody since their arrests seven years ago, and are now scheduled to be tried again Nov. 10 in Baltimore Circuit Court.

Their first trial ended in mistrial in 2005 because of confusing testimony and scant evidence, jurors said at the time. The second trial resulted in murder convictions and life sentences for the men a year later. But the convictions were overturned in June of this year because a judge failed to share jury notes expressing evidence concerns with attorneys. The city State's Attorney's Office announced in July that it would retry the case.

[ichy]

It's going to be much more difficult getting a conviction this time around. From what I recall several witnesses have either been deported or are dead.

[Red Baron]

It's going to be much more difficult getting a conviction this time around. From what I recall several witnesses have either been deported or are dead.

Quite right. The most we can probably hope for is that their illegal es get deported.

[ybnormal]

The judicial system at its finest.

[buzzthefuzz]

Quite right. The most we can probably hope for is that their illegal es get deported.

Not in this state!!!

[Morgan208]

Quite right. The most we can probably hope for is that their illegal es get deported.

No they will get in state tuition and a drivers licence.

[Wizard777]

It's going to be much more difficult getting a conviction this time around. From what I recall several witnesses have either been deported or are dead.

That's not that big a deal. Baltimore juries tend not to put much stock in witness testimony. They want to see the physical evidence. That's why the two brothers walked in the murder for hire trial. That case was witness intensive with little or no physical evidence.

[SonOf Scribbler]

The local media outlets are still referring to the three victims as "young relatives". Just sounds a little odd.

"Yeah, I'm taking my three young relatives to the park tomorrow..."

[betamanlet]

Wow, if they get off they can get some instate tuition in MD!

Hurray for MD and people like O'malley!

[buzzthefuzz]

Wow, if they get off they can get some instate tuition in MD!

Hurray for MD and people like O'malley!

That about sums it up. The truth hurts. No wonder 76% of the country feels we are on the wrong path.

[betamanlet]

When I was in 11th grade I took a law class and we went to the circuit court in rockville to sit in on a trial. It was of an illegal immgrant who raped an infant. They went through a translator vividly describing what happened to this infant..

[Baltimatt]

Postponed again

A new trial date was not immediately set for defendants Policarpio Espinoza Perez, 30, and Adan Espinoza Canela, 25, though it will likely be sometime this summer, according to Judge Barry G. Williams. He attributed the delay to both sides in the case. The men, illegal immigrants from Mexico, have been in custody since their arrest nearly eight years ago. Their first trial ended in a hung jury, and the second resulted in convictions and life sentences that were overturned on appeal last year because of a trial judge's error.

The men were next set for trial on Nov. 10, but the case was postponed, and again Wednesday. It's unclear what the reasons for the latest postponement were; the lawyers discussed them in secret at the judge's bench.

[Mitchum]

They don't meet the criteria for instate tuition.

[Lawman 27]

They don't meet the criteria for instate tuition.

We have criteria for "New Americans?" Just a minor technicality that will be overlooked.

Why would the Attorney General represent them? They already have a good defense lawyer.

Not only do they have good defense lawyers (the best that MD taxpayers can afford), they have a "Court of Appeals" that is happy to do all they can to ensure NO JUSTICE is done.

_______________________________

Brian Murphy, who is representing Adan Canela, 25, said his client and co-defendant Policarpio Espinoza Perez, 30, turned down a deal at a court hearing Thursday. Had they accepted, Canela and Perez would have received life sentences with all but 40 years suspended, Murphy said.

Honest question (and all my usual sarcasm aside):

Why should they take a deal? They have seen that this State is bending over backwards NOT TO FIND THEM GUILTY, so why accept anything that remotely shows their guilt?

[Virginia Poe]

We have criteria for "New Americans?" Just a minor technicality that will be overlooked.



Not only do they have good defense lawyers (the best that MD taxpayers can afford), they have a "Court of Appeals" that is happy to do all they can to ensure NO JUSTICE is done.

_______________________________



Honest question (and all my usual sarcasm aside):

Why should they take a deal? They have seen that this State is bending over backwards NOT TO FIND THEM GUILTY, so why accept anything that remotely shows their guilt?

They are "entitled" that's why. They are "New American's" (Double Speak- 1984- George Orwell)

[Cetshwayo]

After these two fine gentlemens be exonerated the State of Md Gov OMalley presiding will have to pay them money for false imprisonment, your tax dollars ha ha.

[buzzthefuzz]

Is Eric Holder representing them?

It could be the witnesses all left town, but why, the city needs them and not necessarily for the trial.

[Mitchum]

Why would the Attorney General represent them? They already have a good defense lawyer.

[Omaha Beach]

Why would the Attorney General represent them? They already have a good defense lawyer.

Is it the same GOOD defense lawyer who represented them at the second trial when they were convicted? I just hope some jailhouse justice catches up with these bums like it did for the guy who threw his two childrenoff a bridge and was then found strangled to death in the shower at Jessup's.

[Baltimatt]

Plea deal rejected

Brian Murphy, who is representing Adan Canela, 25, said his client and co-defendant Policarpio Espinoza Perez, 30, turned down a deal at a court hearing Thursday. Had they accepted, Canela and Perez would have received life sentences with all but 40 years suspended, Murphy said.

"The state made it pretty clear, take it today or it's withdrawn," Murphy said. "They're OK with that; they rejected it." The case now looks set to go to a third trial, which is scheduled to start March 11. The first resulted in a hung jury, and a conviction and life sentences for the men in a second were overturned on appeal.