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Sunday, July 27, 1997
7 acquitted in trial overshadowed by death
of government witness
McALLEN, Texas (AP) - A federal jury has acquitted seven defendants
of drug smuggling charges after a key government witness was murdered
before he could testify in their trial.
The body of McAllen businessman Hector Salinas Guerra, 42,
was found Tuesday in Reynosa, Mexico, his arms and legs bound
with tape. His head was indented with a deep groove, possibly
caused by a pistol or bat, and his body had been pummeled, resulting
in multiple fractures, Mexican police said.
U.S. District Judge Filemon Vela took pains to keep news of
the killing from seeping into the courtroom during the weeklong
trial that ended Friday. Several times a day, he reminded the
jurors not to read the newspaper, watch television or listen to
the radio.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Terry L. Leonard said Salinas' testimony
would have been "very important to the case. Only he could
testify to certain facts."
The seven men were accused of smuggling about 3,000 pounds
of marijuana across the border.
Salinas agreed to help prosecutors after drug agents found
several hundred pounds of marijuana in the back of his clothing
store in April.
The same day Salinas' body was found, his son testified in
his place.
Defense attorneys argued that their clients were bystanders,
mistaken by agents to be involved in the alleged smuggling ring.
They said they believed the lack of direct evidence made it easier
for the jurors to acquit their clients.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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