Trial Postponed

Today the Nicaraguan court issued an order canceling both the trial and pretrial hearing originally set for Monday, May 16th, 2011, in Jason's case.  All proceedings have been postponed for another month until June 15, 2011.

The purported reason for suspending the trial was to allow a co-defendant’s attorney to view evidence outlined in the charges.  Yet this request has been pending since February. The police and prosecution have resisted this counsel’s efforts to view the evidence, despite the law requiring them to provide such access within 24 hours after the notice of evidence is filed. 

There is also no basis for postponing the pretrial hearing that was set.  Most critically, this continuance eliminates the forum to challenge Jason’s ongoing unlawful detention.