Occurring as it did in broad daylight on a weekend it might have expected that the Audinett case could have produced a conviction with the help of plentiful witnesses. But with the recent threats, attempted murders, and actual murder of one witness, presently many are too afraid to testify against accused killers. And that's what a witness in another murder trial appeared to be today.
A witness, who we won't name, told the court that he was not willing to testify about the September 2003 murder of Mark Saragoza. Justice Gonzalez then told him that he must testify or he would be sent to prison. The witness then said that he was high that night and could not testify credibly. Justice Gonzalez then pointed to a lengthy statement he gave to the police at the time as proof that he had much to testify about. But even with that the trial didn't get very far because when the accused Saul Cardona took the stand he asked for his attorney Simeon Sampson who was absent from court. With that Gonzalez ordered an adjournment.
But aware of the witness scare, during the proceedings, Gonzalez cautioned the court, against the conduct of a police officer who during his testimony gave the name of an informer. Gonzalez said "the rules have changed" and stressed that the police should protect the identity of their informers even in sworn testimony.