The trial within a trial in the Oscar Selgado case came to a conclusion this morning in the Supreme Court. It was to determine whether Giovanni Ramirez's statement would be admitted without him having to testify in court. Ramirez has expressed that he feels his life would be in danger if he were to appear as a witness in the trial. Ramirez is the lynchpin in the trial; he claims Attorney Selgado hired him to kill a woman.
And after considering all the evidence presented, Justice Nigel Pilgrim ruled that indeed Ramirez did seem to fear for his life and so his statement will be used in the actual trial.
For the DPP, the whole case pivoted on getting this statement admitted - but after the session, she said only a few words before leaving to tend to another matter.
Reporter:
"Madam DPP, it's been a good day for you."
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions
"So far, yes. Let's hope that continues."
Reporter:
"What about the aspect that the judge did not rule in relation to the truth of the statement?"
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions
"That's not the purpose of the voir dire, the voir dire is just to determine what can be admitted. At the end of the trial, the judge will determine whether he will rely on it."
