For the fifth time, the tenth criminal judge, Víctor Cruz, postponed the hearing in which he must comply with what was ordered by an Appeals Chamber, which resolved that the former mayors of Santa Catarina Pinula Víctor Alvarizaes and Antonio Coro face trial for the tragedy of October 1, 2015, which left several dead in the El Cambray 2 community.
The hearing scheduled for this day was postponed again to May 21, at 2 p.m. The judiciary reported that the suspension was due to the absence of the representative of the Attorney General’s Office (PGN), in addition to that of José Antonio Coro and his defense lawyer. However, the presence of the former official outside the courthouse was documented.
On January 20, 2022, Judge Víctor Cruz decided to dismiss the case in favor of the former mayors and close the criminal process. However, an appeal raised by the Public Ministry was resolved by an Appeals Chamber, which corrected Cruz’s resolution and ordered that the former mayors face trial for manslaughter and, alternatively, for breach of duty.
On the night of October 1, 2015, a large landslide in the El Cambray 2 community, Santa Catarina Pinula, left 280 people dead. The investigation indicates that those accused had omitted the warnings contained in reports that warned about the risk of living in the place.
Furthermore, they would not have followed the Conred recommendations, which also warned about dangers in the area related to land erosion due to the flooding of the Pinula River.
In the suspended hearing, what was ordered by the Appeals Chamber had to be complied with, in addition to scheduling the hearing to offer evidence that will be heard in the trial and defining the court that will be in charge of the process.
*Stay up to date with the Now newsletter. Key information at the moment it happens. Subscribe here.