No-show judges in murder case reveal hobbled courts system

Santo Domingo.- The country’s courts system on Thursday revealed its shortcomings when the judges assigned to hear a murder case in Samaná didn’t show up alleging that they weren’t paid their per diem.

The relatives of a teacher murdered two years ago in Samana denounced the situation to the Supreme Court, and learned that the judges refused to attend court because they weren’t paid the travel expenses.

Raúl and Luisa Bethania Taveras, whose mother Bethania A. Ureña, 72, was murdered in her home during a burglary showed a certification from the Samana Office of the Prosecutor, stating that the three judge panel court failed to convene their hearing and others because the magistrates weren’t paid their per diems. They didn’t reveal the judge’s names.