Condesa Dog Poisoning Suspect Stays in Jail After Defense Drops Hearing
The man accused of poisoning dogs in Condesa remains in pretrial detention after his lawyers withdrew a hearing. Six other animal cases are still pending.
Salvador ‘N’, accused of poisoning dogs in the colonia Condesa, will stay in prisión preventiva justificada (pretrial detention) at the Reclusorio Norte, according to record.com.mx. His defense lawyers withdrew from a hearing they had requested to seek a change in his precautionary measure, which would have let him face the criminal case in freedom.
Neighbors from the Condesa gathered outside the oral trial courtrooms on Doctor Lavista before the hearing to oppose any release. A lawyer for one of the victims said the court case covers only one dog, while six other animals are still part of pending investigations.
What happened at the hearing?
The hearing was scheduled to review the accused man’s legal situation and consider changing the conditions under which he is held. Once the parties appeared before the juez de Control (the judge who oversees the early stage of a criminal case), the defense asked that the hearing not take place. The judge therefore held no debate on a new precautionary measure.
Did the judge refuse his release?
No ruling rejected his freedom. The detention continues because his own lawyers dropped the request, and the measure already in force stayed in place. Reporting says the defense planned to argue that he could receive psychological treatment as part of a request for conditions other than pretrial detention. Since the hearing did not go ahead, that proposal was not formally discussed.
How many animals are involved?
Sofía Marín, a lawyer for one of the victims, said the proceeding now before a judge concerns only Ramoncito, one of the dogs allegedly poisoned in the Condesa. She said investigations remain open into three other dogs that died and three more that were injured, and she asked prosecutors to keep working so those cases can also reach a judge.
That makes six animals beyond Ramoncito whose cases, in her account, still need to be taken to court.
Why do the victims oppose his release?
Marín voiced concern about the accused facing the process outside prison. She argued that the baits containing toxic substances could also have been eaten by children, because they would have been left in places where residents walk. In her view, that risk to the community should weigh on any request for release.
Those statements are the position of the victims’ legal representation. They are not a court finding about the accused’s criminal responsibility. He remains an accused person, and his participation must be established through the criminal process under the presumption of innocence.
Why does it matter?
The case has worried residents of the Condesa, where several episodes of suspected animal poisoning have been reported. Neighbors have said they are uneasy about dangerous substances in shared spaces, and their protest asked that attention to the case continue. They also want investigations into the other affected dogs to move forward, not only the file now before a judge.
What comes next?
Salvador ‘N’ stays in pretrial detention at the Reclusorio Norte while the criminal process on Ramoncito’s case continues. Prosecutors must decide the next steps in the investigations covering the other animals that, according to the victims’ lawyer, died or were hurt.
Source: record.com.mx
