Santo Domingo Este.- Lawyer Cándido Simón, legal representative for merengue artist Gilberto Julián Sarante Perdomo, known as Julián Oro Duro, stated this Friday that the four defendants accused of the murder of Zeneida Socorro Castillo and the assault against the artist could face sentences of up to 60 years in prison, depending on the crimes and circumstances proven during the proceedings.
The statements were offered by Simón upon his arrival this Friday at the Judicial City of Santo Domingo Este, where he awaits the start of the hearing for the consideration of the request for a coercive measure against the four defendants linked to the case.
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Simón explained that, if the existence of torture is proven, that specific criminal offense carries, according to his interpretation of current legislation, a fixed sentence of 40 years.
“If there was torture, that criminal offense alone carries a fixed 40-year sentence, not 3 to 10, 3 to 20, or 30 to 40; a fixed 40 years,” the jurist maintained.
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He added that there are other criminal offenses with sentences of between 10 and 40 years and that, taken together, the maximum prison term contemplated by the legislation would be 60 years.
The lawyer warned, however, that the process must not become a stage for “populism” and asked that the accusation be concrete and precise.
“I hope they do not make it a cumbersome process, but rather a concise and precise one, which is what the reinforced Criminal Procedure Code now mandates”, he stated.
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Julián Oro Duro has been discharged
Simón also reported that Julián Oro Duro was discharged this Friday, after remaining hospitalized for the injuries sustained during the attack.
He explained that, if the court sets an upcoming hearing, there is a possibility that the artist will appear before the judge.
Regarding a possible suspension of the hearing, Simón pointed out that, if any of the lawyers requests time to properly prepare the defense, the court must weigh that right against procedural deadlines.
“The right to an adequate technical defense prevails, and so does the right of victims to be represented with dignity and in a timely manner,” he stated.
The jurist said that he maintains communication with Julián and that he has perceived him as “quite affected” by what happened.
“Feelings are not explained, they are expressed. What I was able to perceive is that he is quite affected, very affected,” he expressed.
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Lawyer does not rule out that more people may appear
When asked if there could be more people involved in the case, Simón stated that he does not want to speculate on information that he has not been able to verify personally.
However, he revealed that one of the men who turned himself in to the authorities allegedly mentioned during his interrogation a person who supposedly resides abroad.
“I have to see if that part is mentioned in the coercion measure,” he indicated.
The case
Zeneida Socorro Castillo was murdered in the residence she shared with Julián Oro Duro in Santo Domingo Este. The artist was also assaulted during the incident and remained admitted to a medical center due to the injuries sustained.
Regarding the case, the authorities have identified four people as defendants, while the Public Prosecutor’s Office continues with the investigation to establish the level of participation of each one and the circumstances in which the crime occurred.
This Friday’s hearing at the Santo Domingo Este Judicial City aims to hear the request for a coercive measure presented by the Public Prosecutor’s Office against the four defendants.
The coercive measure will be heard while the authorities advance in the collection of evidence and the parties present their arguments before the court, which must evaluate the elements presented before adopting a decision on the legal situation of the four defendants.
