BRIEFS. judicial

Prosecutor to review murder case

A prosecutor intends to review the criminal case involving a woman who fell to her death from the Plaza Paitilla Inn in March of 2005 to determine if it should be reopened.

Two people, Amael Acosta and Yanibé Sarmiento, were investigated in the death of Vanessa Márquez, but were never tried. The case was dropped when two out of the three judges on the Supreme Court's criminal division recommended that it not go forward.

Prosecutor Maruquel Castroverde, however, plans to examine the case file to see if there is any evidence that would lead to charges being reinstated.

"No life can be lost in vain," Castroverde said. "The administration of justice in this case has been questioned, and society expects that a murder does not go unpunished."

The prosecutor said he thinks there is sufficient evidence that the case should be brought to trial. He added that some aspects of the case, including the apparent attempts at a cover-up, also need to be more closely examined.

"There are serious credibility issues with the accused," Castroverde said.