COURT SENDS EIGHTS ACCUSED INDIVIDUALS TO TRIAL IN MUSA CASE

Guatemala, March 10, 2011. The Eighth High-Risk Trial Court ruled to send eight accused individuals to trial, all charged with participating in the murder of businessman Khalil Musa and that of his daughter, Marjorie Musa, on April 14, 2009.

After assessing the evidence filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP), the judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence for the accused to face justice on charges of murder and criminal association.

The following individuals were sent to trial on the above charges: Marlon Wilfredo Pineda González, Wilfredo Antonio Paz Mejía, Mario Luis Paz Mejía, Wilian Gilberto Santos Divas, Edwin Idelmo López, Balmoris Guzmán Orellana, Samuel Girón Cobar, Bayron Estuardo Santos Divas. Rudy Romeo Rodríguez will be tried on the charge of criminal association.

In the case of justice collaborator Lucas Josué Santiago López, the MP requested the stay of proceedings, while also requesting that the other justice collaborator, Adelino Morales Pérez, be tried on the charge of criminal association, through summary proceedings. The court convened a hearing for March 16 to rule on the two applications of the MP.

As to Felipe Antonio Escobar Sicán, another accused party in the case, the pre-trial hearing to open oral arguments will be held on March 18 at the aforementioned court.