Tension in the case of Pastor Ángel Gabriel Capellán: Defense questions the Public Prosecutor’s Office
The judicial process against Pastor Ángel Gabriel Capellán in San Cristóbal has taken a new turn. Manuel Soto Lara, the defendant’s lawyer, denounced this Thursday that the Public Prosecutor’s Office is actively blocking the participation of the parents of the minors involved, preventing them from offering their version of the facts before the court.
For the defense, the refusal of the prosecuting body is suspicious. According to Soto Lara, the parents’ testimonies are key pieces that could provide a different perspective to the official narrative presented by the prosecution during the hearings.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office opposes the parents speaking. It does not dare to let the parents speak, because the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s mask will fall off.
Manuel Soto Lara, defense attorney.
Key points about the legal dispute
- Right to defense: Capellán’s legal team maintains that the parents must be heard to ensure a transparent process.
- Possible contradictions: The defense asserts that the parents’ statements could invalidate a large part of the allegations made against the pastor for alleged child abuse.
- Public Prosecutor’s strategy: According to Soto Lara, the prosecuting body seeks to prevent elements that contradict its formal accusation from coming to light.
The case, which has generated great expectation in the province of San Cristóbal and the municipality of Haina, continues under the scrutiny of public opinion. Recently, the court decided to postpone the hearing until the 15th of this month, a date on which the process is expected to continue advancing amidst the controversy over the exclusion of these testimonies requested by the defense.
