[ad_1]
New York
The trial against Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán in the United States begins today; a process that should last – up to four months – and now lives its first stage: the selection of the dozen people who together form the popular jury who will be responsible for judging the fate of what is said the greatest drug lords in the history of drug trafficking.
Sinaloa's cartel leader was extradited to the United States in January 2017 after escaping twice from Mexican jails. He faces a life sentence and will be charged with 11 crimes, including drug trafficking, conspiracy and money laundering.
Since his extradition, on the night of January 19, 2017, on the eve of Donald Trump's entry to the White House, the start of this lawsuit has been postponed twice. The drug dealer has been in a prison in Manhattan for 654 days.
Now, the US government and its defense will start the task of finding the right people to try it.
The prosecutor and Guzmán Loera's lawyers had to agree on a preliminary questionnaire of more than 30 pages and 120 questions, which was sent in the middle of the summer to a thousand potential jurors, a considerable number and rarely seen.
"Were you or someone close to you scared or threatened by people who thought you were involved in drug trafficking, what is your favorite book, do you have a personal opinion about people of Mexican ancestry who could challenge you – to be a fair and impartial jury? ", some of the questions candidates had to answer.
Their responses have been carefully examined to determine the most appropriate people for the trial.
According to sources consulted by EL UNIVERSAL, the two parties did not oppose about 65 profiles. This group will include the 12 members – and six substitutes – of the popular El Chapo jury.
The US government fears that because of Sinaloa's alleged past, jurors will be forced by members of the Sinaloa cartel, or even fear for their lives.
Judge Brian Cogan, in charge of the case, shares his fear for "the history of violence" that surrounds the figure of El Chapo, why he allowed the group to be " anonymous and partially isolated ". They will know neither their identity nor their personal data and will be constantly monitored by the federal security forces. All that is necessary so that there is no incident.
The defense of the capodon complains of this decision, arguing that this restraint and this prevention attribute to its client a label of dangerous character that can skew the opinion of the jury and raise suspicion on the presumption of innocence.
Now you have to select 12 people (and six replacements) willing to stay up to four months – in the midst of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year – under a semi-solitary regime, from Monday to Thursday from 10am to 17h. in the afternoon, listen to witnesses, co-operators, experts and experts. All for civic duty and a salary of $ 40 a day.
Today begins the last phase of this selection: to see it say, public interrogation with the presence of the judge, the prosecution and the preselected group defense. A phase which, as in any case, will not follow the usual rules and, although by definition it is a public process, this time it will be a private proceeding.
According to Judge Cogan, this measure is taken because of the "abnormally high risk" which, "because of the intensity [e internacional] public and the media, "potential jurors" self-censor their answers on sensitive issues such as their prejudices against people of certain races, ethnicities or nationalities, or their views on federal politics. in drug matters or relations between the security forces between the United States and Mexico. "And not only that: the" fear for his safety, given the nature of the crimes "of which El Chapo Guzmán is accused, could condition his answers.The presence of many people in court – as was the case at the time. Previous hearings, forcing extra rooms to follow video procedures – could boost their fear.
According to the judge, the fact that the room is filled with journalists could also help to identify the members of the jury.
The prosecution went further and hinted that members of the Sinaloa cartel could infiltrate the press to identify the jurors and attempt to influence their decisions with extortion or threats.
Source link
