It was a full day of criminal court for San Pedro Magistrate Christina Perrera, we'll tell you about her first high profile case in a moment, but her second of the day was that of Gabriel Villafranco and the Tun brothers, 22-year-old Pedro and 36-year-old Sergio Luis. Each of those men was read a series of 4 charges being the murder of Jerry Espat, the attempted murder of Kirian Espat, intent to cause dangerous harm, and deadly use harm. No bail was granted to any of the men because of the nature of their offenses. But outside the courtroom family members of the Tun brothers were incensed. They say their relatives are innocent and that they have credible alibi's. We spoke, off camera, to one family member ahead of the proceedings.
Reporter
"What's being said in the court of public opinion is that this is a gang war that playing out, a gang war that's been in effect for a while. How does that fit in with your family members and what you know about them?"
Voice of: Family member of the accused
"To be honest with you I am not aware. Like I said I don't know, I can't answer that, because only them know what they have any problem. I can't tell you if he have a problem with them. I can't answer you that and the thing is that I look at the news last night and I listened to them talking and like it puzzled me, because the name that he called him, none of them are by that nickname he called and none of them lives in San Juan, none of my brothers live in San Juan."
Reporter
"We know that your family has discovered video of your family members, at a store at the time that they're supposed to have committed this grievous crime, tell me about that process and how you're trying to bring that video forth to clear their names?"
Family member of the accused
"Well, I came yesterday to San Pedro to try and get, because when I called my mom was the one to call me and tell me what's going on, so, I came and I went to the store that they told me that he went to buy a triple antibiotic the morning, one of them, Sergio, went to buy a triple antibiotic at quality, then from there one of my relatives said that he went to but, they recall sending the other one, Pedro to buy chicken cuts and puddings for my grandmother that comes in the little cup and he went and he took his little son with him to the store."
"So we went and I saw the footage at 777 Supermarket and I saw him coming in at 10:12 in the store, the camera saw him coming in and paying at the counter."
Reporter
"What was your reaction when viewing the proof that your family members have an alibi."
Family member of the accused
"Oh I was happy because I said that with this they will be free not knowing that couple of hours after, you know when I went up to ask the guy went up to me and told me that they will be charged."
"I came and I brought those and I asked to see a police officer that they told me to see and when I told him he didn't want to just listen to it, he didn't even want to check them."
"To make just a couple hours after your hope is gone because then you have the proof and it's like that's not good enough."
Villafranco and the Tun's were each read and made to understand their charges, no plea taken and their next court date is January 5th.
In another irrational move by the police, the media was strictly banned from getting footage of the accused - which is standard practice once they are charged. But, police would not allow our crew to do its work today. The Police Press Office has also not relied photos of the accused - which, again, is standard in any case where criminal charges are brought.
