The fate of Albert Solorio will be decided by a group of his
peers.
After months of attempted gag orders, allegations of evidence
tampering and a legal game of musical chairs, a jury trial will get
under way Monday, Dec. 1.
The fate of Albert Solorio will be decided by a group of his peers.
After months of attempted gag orders, allegations of evidence tampering and a legal game of musical chairs, a jury trial will get under way Monday, Dec. 1.
Solorio was arrested July 1, 2002 after an alleged struggle with Hollister Police Sgt. Greg Thul sent both men to the hospital after crashing through a plate glass window.
The attorneys involved, defense attorney Arthur Cantu and Deputy County Counsel Darren Bogie, will make In limine motions before the judge Monday.
Motions made In limine are requests that the court issue a ruling that prohibits the opposing council from raising a particular, highly prejudicial issue at trial.
“I will make a motion In limine that we be allowed to introduce evidence about the videotape,” Cantu said. “The judge will make a decision about that.”
The videotape refers to a recording that allegedly captured the struggle between Solorio and Thul and that Cantu alleges was tampered with by police.
“They denied its existence until after a formal motion 11 months later,” he said.
Both police and the District Attorney’s office denied any attempt to withhold evidence or to mislead the defense.
“(The videotape) is a question we will be asking the jury to review,” Cantu said.
Cantu will also file a request that Judge Alan Hedegard not be the trial judge, he said.
“My client believes he will not get a fair trial,” he said. “The burden will be put on the Superior Court to determine a judge.”
Cantu anticipates the trial lasting between four to five days.
Bogie did not return several phone calls about the upcoming trial.
