Three people arraigned as alleged murderers of Tijuana journalist Lourdes Maldonado

ALFREDO AZCARATE VARELA
THE BAJA POST/EDITOR

Just three or four weeks ago, two journalists were murdered in less than 10 days in Tijuana. The investigation into the murder of journalist Lourdes Maldonado has advanced and there have already been three people arrested, who have now been arraigned.

Reports of the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) of Baja California inform that the three defendants named Erick «X», Guillermo «X» and Kevin «X», were linked to criminal proceedings for the crime of homicide against the journalist Lourdes Maldonado Lopez.

On February 9, 2022, the arrest warrant was issued against Erick «X», Guillermo «X» and Kevin «X», for being likely responsible for the murder of journalist Lourdes Maldonado López, they were arrested and the charges against them are qualified homicide.

The State Attorney office informed that an investigation was being carried out and the suspects were accused of qualoified homicide and they were identified as co-perpetrators in the crime; In exercise of their right and prior advice from their defense, they decided to remain silent and not declare or give any statement whatsoever.

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With evidence collected in order to be used against them , the State Attorney requested for them to be arraigned and judged, saying that there are more than thirty background investigations and arguments on which the accusation is based, such as video recordings provided by neighbors, statements by eyewitnesses , and direct indications that they took part in the killing of Ms. Maldonado, records of GPS device show that a «Taxi Libre» (free taxi) also took part, and telephone lines and call tracing of the accused, are part of the proof against them.

At the arraignment hearing, the Control Judge informed the defendants of the terms in which they could resolve their legal situation, and they decided to take advantage of the 144-hour term provided for in our Constitution, therefore, 12:15 p.m. on February 14, 2022; at the same time, the State Attorney requested the so called “cautionary measure” (jail) of preventive detention for the defendants, without argument from the public defense, for which the Control Judge imposed said precautionary measure.

Two journalist were killed in Tijuana in January, there are three people arraigned to a legal process for allegedly killing Lourdes Maldonado, while Margarito Martinez killers are still at large, authorities assure they are working hard to locate and arrest the people who killed Margarito

On Monday, February 14, the Arraignment Hearing began, with the proofs by the public defense, who requested the Control Judge to resolve according to law, for which the jurisdictional body proceeds to resolve t it has sufficient evidence to prove the criminal act, and the probable responsibility of the three defendants in the victim’s homicide.

The three alleged killers were pointed out directly by eyewitnesses as participants imn the murder of the Tiuana journalist, supported by the evidence, expert opinions, as well as an analysis of telecommunications gave strong evidence through which it was possible to establish the presence and participation of those accused today at the scene of the events on the day and time mentioned above.

Due to the fact that the crime for which these three were linked to the process is that of aggravated homicide, the Control Judge imposed the precautionary measure of preventive detention and authorized an investigation period of six months for both parties.