Honduras former president’s new lawyer requests trial extension
The new public defender of former president Juan Orlando Hernández, lawyer Renato Stabile, who joined his case three days ago, requested an extension of the trial of between three to six months on Friday.
In a document addressed to the judge, Stabile cited overwhelming material that needs to be reviewed and procedural problems related to classified information in the case as reasons for the extension. He also mentioned the difficulty of effectively assisting Mr. Hernández in such a short period of time, given the volume of untranslated Spanish documents and recordings.
Stabile emphasized the large load of documents in the trial against the former Honduran ruler, stating that he would need more time to review and prepare adequately for the case. He also apologized for the inconvenience caused to the court, the government, and other parties and requested a postponement of at least 90-180 days to provide effective assistance to Mr. Hernández.
It should be noted that the first reason that appears in the document published by García cannot be read as it was censored.
The request for the trial extension comes as the NY Prosecutor’s Office opposes separating the trial of Hernández, “El Tigre” Bonilla, and a former police officer.
The former president’s new lawyer insists on separating the trial, as he believes it is necessary to provide effective assistance and protect Mr. Hernández’s due process rights.
The trial against Hernández has garnered significant attention, and with the request for an extension, the legal proceedings are likely to be delayed.
It is evident that the case against the former president is complex, and it remains to be seen how the judge will respond to the request for a trial extension. As the legal proceedings continue, the public will be closely watching the developments in this high-profile case.