July 19th 2024.
A case that has been making headlines for the past three years has taken a new turn as defense attorneys argue for the dismissal of murder charges against a teenage boy. This young boy, Remi Cordova, was only 14 years old when he was arrested for the fatal shooting of Pamela Cabriales in February 2021. Cordova is accused of using an AR-15 rifle to open fire on Cabriales after a minor car accident, allegedly as a way to gain status within the Eastside Crips gang.
Cabriales' death was a tragic event, and the man driving the car that night, Neshan Johnson, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison. However, Cordova's case took a different path as Denver District Attorney Beth McCann decided to move it to adult court. This decision was met with opposition from Cordova's public defenders, who argued that McCann had made inappropriate comments about the case to the media, violating her ethical obligations as a prosecutor and a court order limiting pre-trial publicity.
In a court filing, Cordova's deputy state public defender, James Zorich, stated that McCann's actions were "shocking" and went against the principles of fairness and justice. He accused her of making malicious and inflammatory statements to the media, which could potentially influence the public's perception of Cordova and deprive him of a fair trial. McCann, through her spokesman, declined to comment on the matter.
The state's rules for prosecutors prohibit them from making extrajudicial comments that could "heighten public condemnation" of the accused, except when necessary to inform the public about the nature of their actions. Zorich took issue with McCann's statements calling the killing a "cold-blooded murder" and citing the "absolute brutal savagery" of the shooting during an interview with Fox31. He also mentioned her comment about Cordova deserving a "long, long time" in prison.
Zorich's motion to dismiss also referenced media coverage from various outlets, including a Denver Post story that relied on information presented in open court during Johnson's trial. He also criticized coverage from 9News, Denver7, and Westword, which included a controversial cover illustration that Westword later apologized for. Zorich argued that even stories that did not mention McCann or Cordova should be considered as they could still influence public opinion.
The defense attorneys called for sanctions against McCann for her "outrageous" misconduct, including the dismissal of the case against Cordova. The trial is set to begin in August, and Cordova is facing charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder. A motions hearing is scheduled for next week.
This call for sanctions comes after 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley faced a public disciplinary hearing for comments she made during the prosecution of Barry Morphew for the murder of his wife. The state alleges that Stanley's comments violated professional rules for attorneys and could result in her disbarment.
As the decision on Stanley's case is still pending, the outcome of this case could have significant implications for McCann's career as a prosecutor. With the trial approaching, all eyes will be on the courtroom to see how this high-profile case unfolds.
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