Posted on 08/16/2007 11:09:22 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Testimony continued Wednesday in the case of a Laredo man accused of participating in the kidnapping, and sexual assault of a group of illegal immigrants who were held in a west Laredo home against their will for three days last fall.Damaso Peche Jr. faced another of his accusers in the 406th District Court. The 22-year-old Peruvian immigrant said she was tied up, burnt and gagged in a bedroom at Peches house, in the 2200 block of West Anna, by one of Peches co-defendants.
"They closed the door. They continued to mistreat us psychologically and physically," the witness said. "They said they were going to kill us."
Roberto Julian "El Gato" Rios and Raul "El Gordo" Ramos, are also charged for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping and sexual assault.
The witness name is being withheld because the Laredo Morning Times does not identify victims who testify in sexual assault cases.
At one point, the witness, who was generally composed during her testimony, began to sob. Prosecutor Norberto Cardenas asked her to positively identify a picture of her breast, which she said, was burnt after one of the accused heated a knife with a lighter and held it to her chest.
While prosecutors admit that the witnesss testimony concerning the alleged torture came at the hands of Ramos and Rios, not Peche, they contend that the information is vital because it proves Peche was knowledgeable about the alleged crimes and complicit in the kidnapping.
"He was in on it," assistant prosecutor Uriel Druker said. "(Defense attorney Jose Salvador) Tellez is trying to refute that. Throughout the testimony, shes corroborating the testimony of (Tuesdays witness). Hes peeking in on things."
The witness did say, however, that Peche walked in on her when she was in the bathroom and made her turn around and face a washer. She added that she thought Peche undid his belt and came closer to her with an intent to sexually assault her, but stopped only when Rios knocked on the door and Peche abruptly left.
Tuesday another witness, a 22-year-old Mexican woman, said she was burned on her buttocks and hit with a belt, and that she too, was gagged. The third woman who was allegedly kidnapped was not raped, prosecutors say, because she was pregnant at the time. They say, however, that all three women were physically assaulted.
Three Laredo police officers also testified Wednesday. Lt. Rene Alvarado testified that he found the three women in the house after he was led there while pursuing Peche, Ramos and Rios on a separate aggravated assault charge after the trio allegedly assaulted a neighbor. He said Peche was hiding in a bedroom closet when he searched the house.
Crime scene investigator Reynaldo Garcia testified to doing a walk-through of the house and marking several items, including three belts, tie-down straps and womens undergarments, as evidence.
During his cross-examination, Tellez attempted to elicit from Wednesdays witness that she never mentioned Peche as anything other than the owner of the house in her statement to police.
"The only other addition stated was that he was scared of his parents and family?" Tellez asked during his cross-examination. "You never mentioned details about him throwing you against the washer. True?" The witness answered in the affirmative and added that she did not include the information because she was pressed for time and because the space provided by Laredo Police for written statements wasnt sufficient to include all the information.
During testimony by Laredo Police investigator Carlos Villarreal, however, he mentioned that witnesses are allowed as much space for information as they want.
Wednesdays witness also refuted Tellezs contention that Peche was not present when the women were being tied up.
"Yes, he was there," she said. "He saw what was happening to us." She added that she never mentioned that in another statement she made to the Mexican Consulate because the consulate asked for fewer details. Tellez countered by saying the statement to the consulate was eight pages long.
Tuesday, Tellez alleged the women were only continuing with their testimony because they were seeking visas in exchange for their information, a topic Cardenas re-visited during his questioning of Wednesdays witness.
"Are you making this up to get a visa?" he asked.
"No, the only thing I want is justice," she responded, adding that she is aware of the fact that she may still be deported as soon as the trial ends.
Visiting Judge Fred Shannon has requested that testimony in the case be concluded by Friday.
(To reach Julian Aguilar, call 728-2557, or email jaguilar@lmtonline.com)
Los dos Laredos ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Have read this story and yesterdays post. Have yet to see where there was a kidnapping. These three women paid to be slipped illegally into the united states. When you run with the wolves don't be surprised if one of them bites you. They should be returned home were they will be safe.
As to the three dirt bags, a long swim with concrete wouldn't bother me one bit. But they are charged with the wrong crime. They were smuggling and drug running, something the head of the boarder patrol in that area said they didn't do anything about.
So will she be deported after the trial? Don’t count on it. Our deportation procedures are totally FUBAR
“A person commits the offense of aggravated kidnapping if he intentionally or knowingly abducts another person and uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the offense. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. §20.04(b)(Vernon 1994 & Supp. 2002). (3) “Abduct” means to restrain a person with the intent to prevent his liberation by either secreting or holding him in a place where he is not likely to be found, or using or threatening to use deadly force. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. §20.01(2)(Vernon 1994). “Restrain” means to restrict a person’s movements without consent, so as to interfere substantially with the person’s liberty, by moving the person from one place to another or by confining the person. Tex. Pen. Code Ann. §20.01(1). As is applicable to the present case, such restraint is without consent if it is accomplished by force, intimidation, or deception. Tex. Pen. code. ann. §20.01(1)(A).”
How do you feel about the sexual assault charges?
No. I'd put it differently -- they weren't charged with enough crimes. This shouldn't be the only charge, and any sentences should run serially rather than concurrently. And, there should be hard time ("Ninety nine years on the hard rock pile.")
Tuesday, Tellez alleged the women were only continuing with their testimony because they were seeking visas in exchange for their information, a topic Cardenas re-visited during his questioning of Wednesdays witness.
"Are you making this up to get a visa?" he asked.
This sounds like a scam set up by the Mexican consulate and Mexican nationals to get visas. What's next?
Tuesday, Tellez alleged the women were only continuing with their testimony because they were seeking visas in exchange for their information, a topic Cardenas re-visited during his questioning of Wednesdays witness.
"Are you making this up to get a visa?" he asked.
This sounds like a scam set up by the Mexican consulate and Mexican nationals to get visas. What's next?
ping
Not a witness, I only know they paid to be there, the rest is speculation.
I don't know if they tried to leave.
I do know that you have 6 crooks here, and three of them are being paid to testify.
Illegal alien women who testify is such sexual assault cases do in fact get visas. The goofy logic is - She’s suffered enough, let her stay here. Mexican consulate has nothing to do with it
Sounds like a scam....6 crooks....court....and a verdict.
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