Double murder charge lawyer faces 2nd killings probe

A woman lawyer charged with the murder  of two clients whose bodies were found in  garbage bags in Las Cumbre,  allegedly overheard   by a protected witness negotiating a payment  of $4,000 for the killings is facing a second double killing probe

She will be in court again on April 25 for a case of double homicide in San Miguelito, on October 27, 2017.

This hearing will be held at 10:00 am, where the charges and the request for precautionary measures will be imputed, for having been linked to the killings of Kotlica Miomir, Italian, 62 years old and Miguel Paz, 27 years and a $120,000  fraud against St George’s Bank

On Friday, April 20 The First Judicial District Court of Appeals endorsed the arrest warrant of the lawyer, Zoraida Saucedo, for alleged involvement with the homicides of Julio Ferreira and Marianela Vallarino, found dead on November 28, in Los Lagos in Las Cumbres.

The magistrates said  Saucedo must remain detained and the Homicide and Femicide  Prosecutor’s Office will provide the evidence of a protected witness who said he had heard a telephone conversation in which the accused was told $4000 was needed to kill two people.

the mother of one of the victims said that Saucedo was one of the last people seen in the company of the murdered couple.

Judge Luis, Mario  Carrasco, who acted as rapporteur for the hearing, warned that there is a risk of destruction of evidence and leakage by the investigated, as its scope has links with people who live abroad.

Also , the Office of the Prosecutor provided evidence that Saucedo failed to comply with precautionary measures applied in another judicial process, … an additional risk for her non-appearance.

Carrasco remarked that the Penal Code recognizes the protection of the home and identity of the protected witness but in the trial phase the witness must appear for questioning by the parties and provide identification.

During the hearing, the prosecutor Isaura Mejía referred to a process of buying and selling three apartments owned by Julio Ferreira, which were managed by Saucedo, but in October of 2017 were transferred to Javier Francisco Sucre. The prosecutor has not yet asked for the appearance of Sucre.

The accused claimed that the apartments were transferred at the request of Ferreira himself, who – according to her – since 2014 had no financial liquidity and whose goods were mortgaged, and had

been threatened in Mexico and in Panama.

Luis Cedeño Antunez, Saucedo’s defense attorney, said  that his client does not haveresponsibility in this case and her  presumption of innocence must be respected.. Antunez had appealed the decision of the judge of guarantees, who  on April 13, , ordered the preventive detention of Saucedo.

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