Justice
Zoel Cruz case: defense of those accused of singer’s disappearance challenges judge
The defense attorney for those accused of the disappearance of singer Zoel Cruz challenged Judge Manolo López, who is in charge of the High Risk Court B.
The start of the intermediate stage in the case of the disappearance of Zoel Cruz was suspended because the judge in charge was challenged by the defense. (Photo Prensa Libre: Juan Diego González)
José Manuel Quinto, defense attorney for Hugo Roberto Andony Galdámez and José Armando Granados, suspects in the disappearance of singer Zoel Cruz, filed a challenge against Judge Manolo López, head of the High Risk Court B, where the case is being heard.
According to the briefs submitted, the judge’s bias is questioned and he is challenged for abuse of authority, prevarication and rulings that do not comply with the law.
At the hearing, the judge declined to continue hearing the case and referred the challenge to an appeals court, which will decide whether to appoint a new judge or whether Judge López should continue with the case.
For this reason, the start of the intermediate stage is postponed until the Appeals Court makes a decision.
Last February, Hugo Roberto Andony Galdámez and José Armando Granados were arrested by the National Civil Police (PNC) during operations in Zacapa accused of their alleged participation in the disappearance of singer Zoel Cruz, who disappeared on November 12, 2021 during an artistic performance in Zacapa.
The PNC’s General Subdirectorate of Criminal Investigation reported that 7 raids were carried out in Zacapa, in an operation they called Zoel, which sought the arrest of people linked to the disappearance of the Mexican regional genre singer who was kidnapped by armed men after a performance in Zacapa.
The operations were coordinated by the Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime and the Metropolitan Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
Both men are accused of kidnapping or abduction, PNC authorities reported.
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