Post by SoulTrainOz on Jun 16, 2006 8:44:16 GMT -5
By JOANN DELUNA
Valley Morning Star
June 15, 2006 — Prosecutors are expected to announce whether they will seek the death penalty against three reputed Mexican Mafia gang members at hearing later this month.
A special grand jury this week upgraded charges to capital murder against three of the 10 alleged gang members accused in the 2003 killing of Jo Ann Chavez of Harlingen.
During a status hearing Wednesday in the 197th District Court, Judge Migdalia Lopez said she will hold a pre-trial conference June 27 in Raymondville.
During that hearing, the District Attorney’s Office is expected to announce whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty, Lopez said.
Also during that hearing, all 10 defendants will be formally arraigned on new charges. All 10 were named in a superceding indictment Monday accusing them of engaging in organized criminal activity.
Lopez also is expected to hear arguments on a motion by defense attorneys to move the trial from Brownsville to Raymondville.
But before she set the hearing date, Lopez reminded attorneys of her order not to speak to the news media.
Four of the five lawyers present verbally consented to the gag order, but defense attorney Larry Warner requested a written specification of Lopez’s order.
“The horse is already out of the barn, your honor,” Warner told Lopez.
Lopez said the order was put into place so that the defendants could get a fair trial.
During the hearing, Lopez and Sheriff Omar Lucio also listened to the defendants’ complaints about their jail cells.
Most of the complaints were similar and included the lack of proper ventilation and air conditioning, pests, no television, and solitary confinement.
Lopez ordered the sheriff to meet with the defendants’ lawyers individually and discuss their concerns.
Valley Morning Star
June 15, 2006 — Prosecutors are expected to announce whether they will seek the death penalty against three reputed Mexican Mafia gang members at hearing later this month.
A special grand jury this week upgraded charges to capital murder against three of the 10 alleged gang members accused in the 2003 killing of Jo Ann Chavez of Harlingen.
During a status hearing Wednesday in the 197th District Court, Judge Migdalia Lopez said she will hold a pre-trial conference June 27 in Raymondville.
During that hearing, the District Attorney’s Office is expected to announce whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty, Lopez said.
Also during that hearing, all 10 defendants will be formally arraigned on new charges. All 10 were named in a superceding indictment Monday accusing them of engaging in organized criminal activity.
Lopez also is expected to hear arguments on a motion by defense attorneys to move the trial from Brownsville to Raymondville.
But before she set the hearing date, Lopez reminded attorneys of her order not to speak to the news media.
Four of the five lawyers present verbally consented to the gag order, but defense attorney Larry Warner requested a written specification of Lopez’s order.
“The horse is already out of the barn, your honor,” Warner told Lopez.
Lopez said the order was put into place so that the defendants could get a fair trial.
During the hearing, Lopez and Sheriff Omar Lucio also listened to the defendants’ complaints about their jail cells.
Most of the complaints were similar and included the lack of proper ventilation and air conditioning, pests, no television, and solitary confinement.
Lopez ordered the sheriff to meet with the defendants’ lawyers individually and discuss their concerns.