IT'S only a matter of weeks before the case against three men accused of beating 18-year-old Cameron Masnayon will go to trial.
Another pre-trial conference is set for July 25 in the Superior Court of Guam for William San Nicolas Jr. and brothers Daniel Rosal and Michael Rosal Jr.
The three suspects were indicted on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault after allegedly beating Masnayon on March 18 with a baseball bat. The beating left Masnayon in a coma for days, requiring numerous surgeries. He is currently undergoing off-island rehabilitation.
Although prosecution initially requested for a six-month delay in the trial, defense attorney F. Randall Cunliffe argued that his client, San Nicolas, has asserted his right to a speedy trial. Masnayon has only a few weeks left of treatment before he returns to Guam, thus allowing the case to move forward.
According to Assistant Attorney General David Rivera, a letter was received earlier this month, indicating Masnayon is undergoing a number of rehabilitative treatments and was given a six- to eight-week time frame for his recovery, pending final word from the doctor.
Meanwhile, defense counsels are demanding copies of a videotaped re-enactment of the incident, but according to Rivera, the Guam Police Department had some difficulty with making copies of the disk. The requested footage is a re-enactment of the incident based on the defendants’ statements.
Judge Arthur Bacinas has ordered the attorneys to review the disk upon its availability in two weeks.
All three suspects remain behind bars.
