A hearing to review the pretrial detention of Jorge Ugalde, the man accused of the triple homicide in La Reina, was postponed Tuesday after the presiding judge disclosed a personal connection to the defendant's family.
Judge Fernando Celiz of the 4th Guarantee Court informed the court of a potential conflict of interest at the start of the proceedings. The judge stated that an aunt of his is friends with the wife of the accused.
Celiz noted that this relationship could "affect his impartiality" in the case. The hearing, originally scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on April 14, has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 16, at 12:00 p.m.
Defense-requested review postponed
The defense team for Ugalde requested the review of precautionary measures. Ugalde stands accused of the murders of cameraman Eduardo Cruz-Coke and his two minor children.
Chief Gender Prosecutor Carolina Remy-Maillet confirmed the postponement following the judge's disclosure. She noted that the prosecutor's office and the defense parties agreed to accept the judge's position.
"While it is not a legal disqualification, the parties were in agreement with this stance, and the hearing was rescheduled," Remy-Maillet said.
A different magistrate will preside over the hearing next Thursday to ensure the proceedings remain unbiased. The prosecution stated the new session will be led by a judge without any perceived links to the case participants.
