Two men accused of murdering an elderly couple in their home on Merida’s prosperous Avenida Colón appeared before a judge Monday May 9, to initiate criminal proceedings at the Center for Oral Justice of Merida.
The hearing for the two charged in the shocking crime, José Rodrigo Villanueva Pérez and Pedro Pablo Moo Miranda, was chaired by the Presiding Judge of the first judicial district of the State Judiciary, Romulo Antonio Bonilla Castañeda.
At the hearing, prosecutors informed the two defendants about the charges from the investigation relating to the crime of murdering the well-to-do elderly couple, Juan Manuel Campos Cáceres, 90 years old, and Lucely Peniche Pasos, 87.
The defendants reserved their right to testify, but one of them said he was subjected to attacks at the time of arrest and was forced to sign leaves, before Judge Bonilla Castaneda instructed the Prosecutor to open an investigation file.
Judge Bonilla Castaneda set another hearing for May 14 at noon to resolve several legal questions regarding the legal status of the accused.
Finally at the request of prosecutors, the judge imposed informal pre-trial detention to be effective until the day of the hearing.
Police investigated the murder scene on Avenida Colón in Merida’s hotel zone. (PHOTO: megamedia.com)
The facts alleged and established at the hearing by prosecutors, occurred on May 2, at approximately 11:30 pm, when two people entered the house on Avenida Colón but were surprised by the owners and by physical violence murdered the elderly couple.
The cause of death of one of the victims was asphyxiation by strangulation with a tie, and the other victim suffered chest piercing knife wounds.
News accounts vary as to the background of the suspects. There have been reports that they are employees of a luxury hotel near the crime scene, while other accounts describe them as alcoholics with no fixed addresses.
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