El Chapo Trial: Defense on deck to begin calling their witnesses, as gov ready to wrap up

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat

Memin finishes cross and at least one more agent called by the government.  Then defense calls their first witness maybe tomorrow...

The government has been working diligently to avoid any impeachment of cooperative witnesses by defense.

There is one potential witness that is incarcerated in U.S. prison. Hmmmm, could it be Alfredo El Mochomo Beltran Leyva?  His former cellie and good friend, who I will call “J”, told me that Mochomo does not believe that Chapo sold him out and caused his arrest.  If Mochomo were to testify, it would seem appropriate to this circus of a trial.  Defense attorney Balarezo was Mochomo’s attorney.  Stranger things have happened, I just don’t know what he would testify to that would help Chapo.

Speaking of Mochomo, I asked about him and “J” says “Fredo is going great.” I need to get clarification if he meant in general or in appeals court.  For you haters and doubters, I verified with the defense that “J” was who he said he is.

The defense also has a handwriting witness they plan to call.  Problem is, we have heard for years that Chapo is a low level literate who famously had other write his letters.  In fact his texts were so bad in grammar and spelling that U.S. agents could easily identify his texts base on the poor syntax.

Speaking of "A circus"

Adding to the circus today; Alejandro_Edda, who plays Chapo on Narcos is in attendance today in the courtroom.  He shook hands with Balarezo.  Keegan is reporting Balarezo said he thinks  Clooney should play him in a movie, Pupura went with Pacino.  Trust me, Balarezo is totally joking.

Apparently when Chapo was told the actor was in the courtroom he had a grin from ear to ear.  Edda apparently borrowed binoculars and studied Chapo intently.  That in of itself it weird.  And should the distraction even be allowed?

Chapo smiles at the actor.

Edda didn’t know what to make of it, and claims he became nervous. [of what?] "Is that a good thing?"  "I feel like I'm inside a movie," he said.

The Cifuentes Villa brothers are targets

Jorge testified before Alex.  He was a confusing witness all over the place with his testimony.

There are several points of contention that demonstrate both brothers being sketchy with the truth.

The defense wants to call at least one agent to the stand to support the fact that the testimony given to them in interviews of the brothers was plagues by inconsistencies.

The U.S. attorneys are not having any of that line of questioning and moved to preclude the questioning of agents with respect to this matter.

Another line of questioning is the fact that Alex Cifuentes telling agents, is the fact he said Chapo was in debt to the tune of 20M dollars, in a six year span.

Damaso Lopez Nunez

When on cross the defense tried to go all in during the cross regarding the murder of Javier Valdez journalist and one of the founders of the highly respected RioDoce.

Damaso denied he or his son had anything to do with the murder, and he put the blame on Chapos sons. 

When the questioning line began the government objected.  Lead defense attorney Eduardo, insisted he had information that is evidence that the murder was conducted by members of Damaso’s cell.  One said his payment was a silver handgun with Mini and El Lic engraved on the weapon. He showed the weapon to multiple persons including his cousin. His cousin is one of the protected witnesses for Mexico, he was not involved in the murder. 

Both killers directly involved were arrested and have recently exhausted their amparos applications

which all were denied.  The trial will be upcoming.

It has been reported by U.S. press,  that AMLO [president of Mexico] says he will he further investigate the murder.  How that happens is a huge mystery.  The case is ready for trial.  He is saying PGR and Marina did an inefficient investigation?  Since when does a president override a case ready for trial?  I could not find anything last week in the Mexican press about his interjecting himself into the case.  But who knows?

After the objection, Judge Cogan misspoke when he declared Damaso said that Chapo told him that his sons ordered the murder, which would have been impossible for Chapo to tell Damaso, as he was already incarcerated in the U.S. and under strict SAMs security measures.

Damaso was not a great witness.  Had the defense been able to question him deeply on the Javier Valdez murder, that may have impeached him.  And there is evidence.  But that window of opportunity was slammed shut by the court.

DEA Corruption and CW1

There is a motion to block any questioning about DEA corruption.

Also,  the prosecution is requesting that the Court bar examination of CWl's lies to his family members and criminal co-conspirators, regarding his girlfriend’s abortion, the bribe paid to a DEA agent by CW1, and his brother Francisco  and CWl's belief that Francisco cooperated with the CIA which led to his brothers murder.  Read more in document below

The big question---Will El Chapo take the stand and testify on his behalf.  I say he should, regret is a horrible thing to live with the remainder of ones life while sitting in solitary.  

El Chapo trial Litchman Rep... by on Scribd