Thread: Pa. high court rejects Mexico's appeal to delay trial

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Pa. high court rejects Mexico's appeal to delay illegal immigrant's murder trial
ASSOCIATED PRESS
9:36 a.m. August 18, 2006

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected the Mexican government's request to delay trial for an illegal immigrant charged with killing three men at a social club last year.

The court Thursday affirmed a judge's ruling that Mexico lacks standing to challenge the court system's treatment of Miguel Padilla, clearing the way for jury selection to begin Monday.

The Mexican government has expressed concerns that Padilla, 26, was jailed without an attorney for seven weeks following the August 2005 shooting in Altoona, about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh.

Blair County officials have said they waited only because they thought Mexican officials wanted input on the selection. When they found out that Mexican officials merely wanted to make sure that Padilla had an attorney, they appointed a public defender, they said.

District Attorney Richard Consiglio said he was pleased by Thursday's ruling “and am satisfied the victims' families will not see justice delayed.”

Padilla's public defender, Donald Speice, said he is prepared for trial and has repeatedly denied the Mexican government's allegations that Padilla has not been represented properly.

The high court said Mexico's concerns could be raised on appeal if Padilla is convicted.

Padilla, who immigration authorities say has been in the United States illegally since he was about 9, could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder in the Aug. 28 shooting deaths.

Michael O'Connor – an attorney in Tempe, Ariz., who represented Mexico – did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Duplicate article. Posted earlier. Please watch the duplicates.

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