Deputy homicide deal “buying justice”

A  judicially approved deal that  shelved  a culpable homicide charge against a CD party deputy who is a doctor and left a fatally injured  teen on the road after running her down her with his car has produced  strong reactions in citizen groups and on social media

If the deputy Mario Lázarus, fails to comply with any of the three terms in the agreement for economic compensation agreed between the relatives of the victim and his defense, the case will be reopened, said  the magistrate judge of guarantees, Harry Diaz.

Among the agreements that the deputy  must meet are: the prohibition of having contact with the parents of the victim or witnesses , the prohibition of driving any type of vehicle and not changing his current residence .

The judge dismissed the request of the prosecuting magistrate, Ángela Russo, that Lázarus be treated by  a psychiatrist and  perform voluntary and unpaid work in a hospital in Colón, as  he had 25 years without practicing medicine.

“The evidence presented by the prosecuting  magistrate show that his reactions were not of panic but a normal person,” said Diaz.

The defense of the deputy said  that the amount agreed with the relatives is kept in reserve, “the compensation was paid completely yesterday”.

Lázarus was accused of aggravated manslaughter, for the death of the minor Ruth Parreño,14,  on December 27, 2017, in Buena Vista, Colón.

Reactions
Anette Planells, of the group Movin, said  that with this agreement “I do not feel that there was justice, this example of a deputy who ran over, and fled, will add to a large number of cases in which the deputies leave unpunished.”

Freddy Pitti, from the group “Together We Decide,” said that the decision “is regrettable when citizens expected justice in a case that was emblematic.”

Pitti added that this sends a message that “if you are a person with high office or if you are wealthy you can buy justice”