That Much Closer to A Resolution, Villalobos Investors Group Announced
In a letter to all Villalobos investors, the investors group UCCR announced a date set by the courts for the trial of Osvaldo Villalobos.

The date is February 5, 2007 at 8:00am.

The letter told investors that "there is no doubt that all of us would have preferred a more timely date for trial. We have been waiting so long already, and now we are looking at another 8 months before we start trial".

The trial date is assigned by the judge who was holding the case file, in this case, Judge Manuel Rojas Salas. This is done in conjunction with staff coordinators who assist in sequencing the dates and assign on a rotating basis, the actual panel of judges who will serve as the Tribunal. There are three revolving panel of judges in this particular jurisdiction. The panel that was assigned to hear the case is a new combination of judges that is not active today. Judge Manuel Rojas, who held the case file up to now, and will head the Tribunal, is considered a tough but fair and excellent jurist by our lawyer and the defense.

The defense lawyers were hoping for sooner, but accept this date as realistic, and more than anything else, are extremely pleased to finally have a date certain. They also expressed optimism that the judges will be rested and fresh returning from their month long holiday ready for a extended trial, as opposed to starting in November with a panel who is worn out and ready for a break.

Chronologically the date is eight months away, but sequentially six, since the courts are on hiatus during the holidays in December and January.

"We finally have a date certain, for the first time since this all began. Let's plan our lives as best we can around it and get ready for a possibly long haul starting on February 5th", the letter told investors, closing with "each passing day brings us that much closer".

More information can obtained at: http://www.ticostuff.com/uccr/