El Universo Case Defense Investigated by 2nd Criminal Chamber

The date set for the cassation hearing of El Universo newspaper is in the hands of the Second Criminal Chamber of the National Court of Justice. Yesterday the permanent deputy judges Luis Quiroz, Cesar Salinas, and Enrique Pacheco denied the challenge request made by the defense of the newspaper.

The text of the document also seeks to make certified copies of the process before the prosecutor and the Transitional Council of Judiciary to investigate the behavior of Carlos Perez Barriga and his attorney Mauricio Guim, “there are assumptions that have sought to mislead the undersigned national judges.”

According to the judges their demand and challenge resources is being made with the sole purpose of hindering the trial. Alembert Vera, attorney of the Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, asked the Prosecutors to start “immediately the prosecutor instructions or at least some investigations and order the detainment of the lawyers and their clients who are making illegal use of the challenge resource.” (AV)