By David Lohr
(Continued)
Eric's trial began on February 14, 2007. The prosecutor called several medical examiners to testify; however, their testimony appeared to help Eric more than it hurt him. According to the experts, they had examined hair, fluid and blood samples from the crime scene and determined that none of them were a match with Eric. There was, for all intents and purposes, no physical evidence linking him to the crime scene.
The defense had assembled ten witnesses to testify that Eric was in Managua at the time of the murder; however, the court would only allow four witnesses, including Eric himself, to testify.
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| Eric Volz |
On February 16, members of the US Embassy were barred from entering the courtroom. The reasons for this action remain unclear. Shortly afterwards, Judge Ivette Toruno Blanco found Eric guilty on all counts and sentenced him to thirty years in prison. Five days later, Judge Blanco failed to appear in court. In her place, a court clerk said that the judge had rejected the testimony of all four-defense witnesses. The clerk also stated the judge had refused to accept the testimony of the medical examiners and that she had discounted the cell phone records and instant messaging documentation. Both Eric and his codefendant, Julion Chamorro, were sentenced to 30 years in prison.
The court recently upheld Chamorro's conviction.
As of this writing it remains unclear if the Nicaragua's attorney general will continue to appeal Eric's case to a higher court.
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