Parmenio Medina Murder Trial Begins; Nine Stand Trial
The hour has come. It is time that the accused face the courts in the murder of 62 year old journalist, Parmenio Medina, who was assassinated on July 7, 2001, in front of his home after leaving the radio station where he hosted his controversial program "la Patada" (the kick in the ass).

Accused of being the mastermind behind the murder is Catholic church priest, Minor Calvo Aguilar and his business partner, Omar Chaves Mora. In addition, Jorge Castillo Sánchez and John Gilberto Gutiérrez, are accused of being intermediaries with those who planned and carried out the murder. Also accused of taking part in the murder are, Juan Ramón Hernández, Danny Smith Mata, Juan Gabriel Carvajal, Luis Alberto "El Indio" Aguirre and Rándall González García.

Father Calvo appeared in court dressed in a black; black pants and black shirt that he usually wore as a priest of the Catholic church, minus the white collar. His partner, Chaves was dressed casually, noticeable having lost weight during his preventive detention (incarceration) waiting for trial.

The trial began at 8:45am, 45 minutes late, packed with news reporters, corrections personnel who are in charge of the prisoners, police officers with bullet proof vests guarding the three judges and officials of the Poder Judicial, also wearing bullet proof vests, who are maintaining security inside and outside the courtroom.

Fiscales (prosecutors) Guiselle Rivera and Miguel Ramírez also had police protection by their side. The judges for the trial are Álvaro Abarca, Ileana Guillén and Zaira Sevilla.

Yesterday, the court took care of the formalities of the case. Today, the charges against the accused are expected to be read in a trial that will be made up nine volumes that holds 803 documents and 225 witnesses.

At the request of the accused, eight were allowed to stand before the court without handcuffs. The court ruled that all of the accused will not be permitted to take use pens or pencils or take notes during the trial, rejecting defence lawyer claims that the prohibition is against the rights of the defenders.


Courtoom security for the "Parmenio" trial is at maximum,
with police wearing bullet proof vests guarding
the judges and prosecutors in the trial.