Half an hour after the prosecutor’s office left, behind the glass doors of the Court, a figure familiar to those who had followed the trial appeared. With his traditional Spanish beret,
García Luna’s lawyer, was walking quickly towards the exit of the building, however, when he saw the twenty journalists waiting for him, he stopped.
First he approached one of the officers at the door and exchanged a few words with him. Then, behind him, with a knitted winter hat, appeared Cristina Pereyra, García Luna’s wife, accompanied by her children Luna and Gerardo. The family and the lawyer talked for a few moments, as if putting together a plan. She, with a pale face, nodded slightly with her head, while her children only followed the conversation with their eyes.
Outside, a light wind and drizzle made New York’s 7 degree cold for a moment more intense. De Castro left first and crossed the street surrounded by the press, which for security reasons is closed to vehicles. Behind him, following the plan, Pereyra and her children walked toward Tillary Street, with a handful of reporters asking questions they didn’t intend to answer. They got into a gray sedan and drove off. Those who were inside the compound during the reading of the verdict assure that only the daughter cried when she heard the result. García Luna gave them one last look before leaving the room.
(Photo: KENA BETACUR/AFP)
An hour after the verdict was made public, De Castro stood in front of the waiting cameras, removed his beret, and read a prepared brief.
“We are extremely disappointed after today’s verdict. The government, after many years trying to build a case against Mr. Garcia Luna with credible and reliable evidence, was forced to settle for building a case on the backs of some of the most criminal criminals. notorious and ruthless who have testified in this court,” he read in English.
