APNewsBreak: 3rd trial in children's 2004 slayings
July 21, 2011 13:59 EDT

By SARAH BRUMFIELD Associated Press

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Baltimore prosecutors say they will pursue a third trial for two Mexican immigrants accused in the 2004 deaths of three young relatives.

The State's Attorney's Office said Thursday that it will prosecute Policarpio Espinoza Perez and Adan Espinoza Canela again. The illegal immigrants are serving life sentences in the slayings of 8-year-old Lucero Espinoza; her 9-year-old brother, Ricardo Espinoza; and their 10-year-old male cousin, Alexis Espejo Quezada. The children were found with their throats slashed.

The men were convicted in 2006 at their second trial; the first ended in a hung jury. There have been questions about the case being difficult to prosecute after so long, but State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein said in a statement that the Court of Appeals decision was focused on the trial judge's error, not evidence.

Related: http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-225105.html