Last Update: 9:33 pm, January 14, 2022
Main Points of the Day
- The trial began today with a ruling by the judges that the defense will be allowed to review the contents of a new USB memory stick presented by the prosecutors. The defense had asked to review it before commenting on whether they formed a legal opinion about whether it should be allowed or not in trial. After reviewing the videos on the USB memory, the defense objected to it being used in trial because it had been edited and therefore, its authenticity could not be guaranteed.
- The judges ruled the following regarding the new evidence presented by the defense and prosecutors: [NOTE: This is not a complete list of evidence presented by either party. The list below just includes the evidence presented by the defense and prosecutors in the ‘incidentes‘ stage in the beginning of the trial process. The rest of the evidence already admitted was presented during the evidentiary hearing]
- Prosecutors’ evidence:
- Protected witness Z2 – The witness testimony will be allowed but whether the witness will be ‘protected’ will be determined after witness is presented in court and judges can ask them why they feel they need protection.
- A document ratified by a police officer will be permitted (it’s unclear what this document is).
- A black and red USB memory stick containing videos from the day that the incidents occurred presented by Daniel Eduardo Silva is allowed but it’s relevance to the case including it’s authenticity will be determined by the judges at a later time.
- A disc with five videos presented by Daniel Eduardo Silva was admitted (the defense did not object to this evidence)
- An inspection report written by an environmental specialist from La Ceiba is admitted
- Witness testimony of three individuals including Santos Correa (Los Pinares’ head of security) is admitted but whether they will be ‘protected’ will be determined by the judges prior to their testimony.
- Defense’s evidence:
- All seven documents presented by defense (see day five) are accepted by the court. These documents demonstrate the illegality of the mining concession and the manner in which the boundaries of the National Park were modified to benefit Inversiones Los Pinares, the mining company.
- All three witness testimonies (Juana Zúniga, Kelvin Omar Herrera, Edy Edgardo Hernandez) are admitted
- The trial was suspended just before noon and will reconvene on Monday, January 17 at 9 am.
