Defense for Alleged Murderer Isidro Delacruz Attempts to Quash Death Penalty

Alleged capital murderer Isidro Miguel Delacruz, 25, attended Judge Ben Woodward’s 119^th district court once again for a pre-trial today. The court further addressed accusations that claim Delacruz slit the throat of his ex-girlfriend’s 5 year-old daughter, Naiya Villegas. Delacruz has had at least five pre-trials for this case since the crime occurred on September 2, 2014.

Defense attorneys Robert R. Cowie and William P.H. Boyles of Lubbock represented Delacruz in court today. Much of today’s pretrial addressed motions from the defense to preclude the death penalty. The motions claim that the jurors are not informed of certain rules, that “’death qualification’ inherently selects ‘guilt-prone’ jurors,” and the statutory definition of mitigating evidence is not satisfactory. Additionally, certain legislation involving the death penalty is unconstitutional, among other claims. As the motions were presented, the attorneys for the state, District Attorney Allison Palmer and Assistant D.A. Megan White, gave their rebuttals.

Eventually, the defense decided to address some of the motions out of court with the State. After hearing the defense’s motions, Woodward scheduled another pre-trial for August 2 at 1:30 p.m. He said the additional pretrial “might be helpful” for the case. The court will also meet again for a previously scheduled pre-trial on August 22.

Further in the future, the jury panel is scheduled to report on August 29 at 9:00 a.m. Furthermore, the jurors will be individually examined on September 12. Finally, the trial will begin on October 31, and is estimated to go on for a week. If Delacruz is found guilty, testimonies concerning Delacruz’s punishment are expected to last two and a half weeks before Thanksgiving begins.

For more about Delacruz’s case, take a look at San Angelo LIVE!’s previous reports.