"Pity" Álvarez absent from ninth hearing in Buenos Aires homicide trial
The singer did not attend the hearing because he "did not want to leave his room", according to his lawyer. The defence also questioned the court judges.
"Pity" Álvarez absent at ninth hearing in trial over Cristian Díaz's death
Cristian "Pity" Álvarez did not appear on Wednesday at the ninth hearing of the trial he faces for the murder of Cristian Maximiliano Díaz, which occurred on 12 July 2018 in the Cardenal Samoré residential complex in Villa Lugano. Díaz died after receiving four gunshots.
According to cadena3.com, defence lawyer Sebastián Queijeiro told the Argentine News Agency that his client did not appear because he "did not want to leave his room". The lawyer added that "he is very difficult to manage".
His defence colleague, Javier Ignacio Baños—former prosecutor of the Morón Judicial Department—specified that the former leader of Viejas Locas and Intoxicados "became unwell" before the hearing.
Defence questions court
Baños also expressed dissatisfaction with judges Gustavo Goerner, Juan Ramos Padilla and Hugo Navarro, members of the Criminal and Correctional Oral Court No. 29 of Buenos Aires City. The lawyer questioned a "warning" that was given to him during the hearing.
"They gave me a warning for exercising the right to defence. If the price of 'Pity's' freedom is a warning, it is well worth that warning," said Baños, who also accused the judges of committing "one arbitrary act after another".
Witnesses called by the prosecution
During the day, prosecutor Sandro Abraldes called two police officers, a psychologist and an expert to testify. One of the officers was Mariano González, the official who searched for the singer at Pinar de Rocha, a nightclub in Ramos Mejía that Álvarez attended after the crime.
Police officer Walter Guayta also gave a statement, having received the artist when he surrendered to the authorities. Also called were psychologist Adela Beatriz Ahuad of the Medical Forensics Corps (CMF), and expert Esteban Toro Martínez.
The accusation and the defendant's own words
Álvarez faces a charge of simple homicide with eventual intent. If found guilty, he could receive a sentence of between 8 and 25 years in prison.
According to the accusation, the musician shot Díaz in the head, who fell to the ground, and then fired three more shots in the same area. He then fled the scene, discarded the revolver and was detained hours later.
The singer himself had stated to the press: "I killed him because it was him or me, and I believe any animal would do the same".
Source: Google News AR — Buenos Aires