Notorious union boss arrives for murder trial with a smile

Santo Domingo.- Notorious truckers’ union boss BlasPeralta, charged with killing former Santo Domingo State University -UASD- chiefdean Mateo Aquino Febrillet arrived at Ciudad Nueva courthouse with a smile onMonday, for a preliminary trial along with three others.

Aquino’s relatives shouted "murderer" upon hisarrival, while demanding maximum penalty for those responsible for the murder.

Peralta, Franklin Venega, Geraldo Felix Batista and retiredpolice coronel Rafael Herrera Peña have been held in the La Romana Correctionalfacility since March 16.

Aquino was shot and killed inside his vehicle on March 11, afterPeralta and several co-defendants allegedly gave chase through several streets ofthe National District.

The homicide was allegedly the result of an argument overpolitical candidacies, prompting the union boss to fire the murder weapon andthen fleeing with two of the codefendants.

In the indictment, the National District Office of the ProsecutorPeralta subsequently contacted the retired colonel to help him eliminate theevidence.

Threats

On Monday Aquino’s widow, Rita Yomaris Solis Tejeda affirmedhaving received death threats on the social media, and said that Peralta “isresponsible for anything that happens to me.”