Live: The hearing ends where John Poulos did not accept charges for the murder of DJ Valentina Trespalacios

At the end of the hearing to charge charges against john poulus, the attorney for the victims, the Prosecutor’s Office and the representative of the Prosecutor’s Office asked the 59th criminal judge of Bogotá to postpone the hearing on the security measure, in view of the length of the day on January 27. It was agreed for Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

The US citizen did not accept the two charges filed against him by the Attorney General’s Office, aggravated femicide and concealment of evidence, for the murder of DJ Valentina Trespalacios.

The 59th criminal judge of Bogotá affirms to John Poulos that he has the right not to incriminate himself in the crime, to remain silent and to have a fair defense in the process. He “He can keep silent as his own right and that of his relatives.” Soon, the US citizen will say whether or not he accepts the charges filed by the Attorney General’s Office.

After the recess, Martín Alberto Riascos, John Poulos’ lawyer, asked the delegate of the Attorney General’s Office to clarify what was the sentimental relationship between his client and Valentina Trespalacios. In addition, that he explained the relevant legal facts of the case and “not the means of evidence as he did at the hearing.”

After a recess, where the defendant spoke with his lawyer, the hearing to charge charges against the alleged murderer of Valentina Trespalacios resumed.

The hearing judge imputation of charges in the crime committed against Valentina Trespalacios issued a recess so that the defendant, John Poulos, can clarify concepts with his lawyer regarding the imputation of the charges of manipulation and concealment of evidentiary material and aggravated femicide charged by the Attorney General’s Office.

Miguel Ángel Del Río, attorney for the victims, assured that during the investigation process hid the cell phone of Valentina Trespalacios and that it was found by a citizen. Therefore, he asked the Attorney General’s Office to include this fact within the crime of concealment of evidence

The representative of the investigative body accused him of a second offense to John Paulos. In this case: Manipulation and concealment of probative material. “The defendant hid the victim’s body as if it were garbage, with that he prevented an investigative work,” said the prosecutor during the audience.

Prosecutor Daniel Gómez Acuña assured that John Poulos physically took advantage of Valentina Trespalacios to kill her, for that reason, he charged her with the crime of aggravated femicide in fraudulent mode as author.

Prosecutor recounts how john poulos murdered Valentina Trespalacios with “his hands”. “The victim, aged 21, died of asphyxiation caused by strangulation.”