Court resets Pajantoy trial

Regional Trial Court Judge Ireneo Lee Gako Jr. yesterday was forced to postpone to September 30 the scheduled trial of the murder cases against SPO4 Juanito Pajantoy.

This was after defense counsel Paul Oaminal declared they would no longer file a comment on the prosecution's evidences presented earlier at the pre-trial conference.

"You should have informed the court," Gako said, sounding irritated when he impliedly told Oaminal that if he had no plans to submit his comments within the given 10-day period then he should have told the court beforehand.

But Oaminal said the defense did not receive a copy of the prosecution's pre-trial brief but, even then, he still felt it was no longer "important" to comment on it.

Prosecution lawyer Macaundas Hadjinasul yesterday said he was already prepared to present his three witnesses if not because of the postponement.

Gako later reminded both parties that their respective witnesses should testify also during the hearing of the defense's motion to post bail.

Pajantoy is facing murder charges for the killing of suspected snatcher Omar Patiño and fellow policeman Michael Sarcol on July 15, 2003. - Liv G. Campo