Family of Triple Murder Victims Raise Concerns Over Case Handling
The case against Christian Espat and Michael Brown, accused of the October 2023 murders of three individuals, including a three-year-old child, is set to begin on January 25, 2025.
However, the family of the victims has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the investigation and has raised questions about the adequacy of the process and whether the case is being deliberately mishandled.
Espat and Brown are accused of fatally shooting three-year-old Amari Rodriguez, her father, Delmar Rodriguez, and 19-year-old Carlos Chi, with seven others injured during the incident in 2023.
In a letter to the media, the family of Amari and Delmar Rodriguez claims that since the start of the investigation, they have been excluded from updates on the case and denied access to disclosures. They say that attempts to contact senior officials, including the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and even the Prime Minister, have reportedly gone unanswered.
The letter says that a partial case disclosure reviewed by the family in September 2024 raised concerns over missing evidence, including statements, forensic materials, and investigative follow-ups. They allege that key pieces of evidence, such as a cellphone believed to belong to one of the accused, were not utilised due to expired police software. They also criticised the lack of collaboration with Mexican authorities to secure forensic evidence and the absence of expert testimony from the Immigration Department, despite claims that illegal cross-border activities were involved.
The family has also pointed to alleged lapses in witness protection, citing instances of threats and intimidation against survivors and victims’ relatives, some of whom reportedly fled the country for their safety. The accused, they claim, have continued to wield influence from prison, using mobile phones to issue threats.
The family has expressed concerns about the accused, particularly Christian Espat, who has been implicated in numerous criminal cases but has yet to be convicted. The family fears the case may fail in court due to systemic issues or potential interference by state actors.
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