A federal judge in San Diego grudgingly agreed to consider delaying the trial for alleged Mexican drug cartel leader Francisco Javier Arellano-Felix. Judge Larry Burns scheduled a hearing in three weeks. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has details.
Defense attorneys for Francisco Javier Arellano-Felix argued they need more time to prepare for trial because of the volume of evidence. Attorney David Bartick calculated it’d take one attorney seven-and-a-half months working 40 hours a week to wade through the evidence. There are at least 60,000 pages of documents and half a million radio transmissions, most of which are in Spanish.
Bartick urged Judge Larry Burns to push back the May 15th trial date. Burns told Bartick he’s not sure more time will help. Burns said some of the crimes took place so long ago, he doesn’t know if TV investigator Columbo would help at this point. Nevertheless, Burns granted the defense’s request.
Meanwhile, the court appointed a new attorney for Arellano-Felix’s alleged top lieutenant who could also face the death penalty if convicted for charges including murder, drug trafficking and racketeering. Amy Isackson, KPBS News.
