Evidence Again Delays Trial of South East High Stabbing

The trial of Abraham Lopez, 18, who is accused of fatally stabbing his ex girlfriend Cindi Santana, 17, in last September, was delayed again, during a pre-trial hearing at the Norwlak Court House, due to the gathering of evidence.

“We are waiting for medical records from the hospital,” said Roberto Rubalcava, the new prosecutor in the case, who recently replaced John Pomeroy because of a transfer. “We will have another pretrial hearing on August 1st.”

both the prosecution and defense were still waiting for St. Francis Medical Center to send Santana’s medical records. 

The length of time that it has taken for the court to receive the medical records was considered routine, according to Rubalcava. The prosecutor also added that delays in a murder case are common.

“Murder cases are serious,” said Rubalcava. “So it takes a while to gather all the necessary evidence.”

López is currently facing charges of murder, 3 counts of assault with a knife, and for issuing a criminal threat, among others.

Once again, Judge Lori Ann Fournier set the trial date for thirty days after the next scheduled hearing. The prosecution and the defense believe that the trial date will be pushed back again because both are continuing to gather new evidence.

“It is going to take a while for all the evidence to come in,” warned Scott Herin, the public defender representing Lopez. “Plus when the items comes in experts will be looking at them, so as of yet it is all preliminary.” 

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