Adriana Coralys Rivera Andújar will be admitted to a penal institution following she was unable to post the $200,000 bail established by Judge David Calderón, of the Court of First Instance of Arecibo, to guarantee her appearance as a witness in the criminal proceeding once morest Lemuel Cruz Cruz for the murder of Alexandra Cardona Torrado, which occurred on June 24, 2020.
“After hearing the evidence and examining the documentary evidence in this hearing, the Court understands that there is a well-founded fear that the witness Rivera Andújar will stop appearing to testify at the Preliminary Hearing scheduled for June 7, 2022″Read the judge’s decision.
If bail is paid, the witness would be subject to electronic supervision.
“The Department of Justice exhausts all remedies to bring justice to crime victims in this country. Do not have the slightest doubt. At the request of the secretary, Domingo Emanuelli, we made multiple efforts, in Puerto Rico and the United States, to locate the witness as she is essential to prove this case beyond reasonable doubt and do justice to Alexandra and her family,” said prosecutor Yamil. Juarbe Molina leaving the court.
Juarbe Molina today requested that the hearing be held as a matter of urgency so that bail might be imposed on Rivera Andújar and thus ensure that he testifies during the judicial process once morest Cruz Cruz, his ex-partner at the time of the murder.
Rivera Andújar, who was residing in the state of New Jersey with the accused, was transferred today to Puerto Rico by agents of the Extradition Division of the Department of Justice. The witness had not been able to be located despite multiple steps taken by the Public Ministry as part of her investigation.
On May 17, Judge Heidi Kiess Rivera agreed to a request from the prosecution to certify Rivera Andújar as a material witness in the case, which means that his testimony is essential to prove the elements of the crime.
The prosecutor detailed in his motion to court that the certification was forwarded to Judge Guy P. Ryan in the state of New Jersey, who issued an arrest warrant for the witness on May 23. The woman subsequently evaded jurisdiction. However, federal and state agents, in coordination with Justice, found her whereregardings in the state of Florida. “In Florida we have the support of the sheriff from Osceola County, Marcos López, to transfer her today to the Arecibo Court, following we managed to get a new arrest warrant issued in that state, ”explained the prosecutor.
“We thank the federal and state authorities that were essential to find the whereregardings of the witness and continue with the process,” he added.
The preliminary hearing is scheduled for next June 7 once morest Cruz Cruz, who is accused of having murdered Alexandra Cardona Torrado, following she sheltered the witness in her residence following an incident of domestic violence.
