Tucson (AZ), Mar 6 (EFE).- The trial against rancher George Allan Kelly, accused of shooting to death a Mexican immigrant who was crossing his land on the Arizona-Mexico border, will begin next September and will be by a jury.
The Santa Cruz County Superior Court scheduled during a hearing held today that the trial against Kelly will take place on September 6 and would be extended if necessary until the 22nd of that month.
Kelly, 73, faces one count of second-degree murder and two counts of assault for shooting a group of people who were crossing his property on January 30.
During the events, Gabriel Cuén Buitimea lost his life after receiving at least one bullet wound to the back.
During the hearing, Kelly’s lawyers asked the court not to set a trial date yet, a request that was denied.
The defense assured that it needed more time to consult its own experts.
Kelly pleaded not guilty to all charges, saying he only fired trying to intimidate a group of at least eight men on his land.
He assured that he did it to defend his life and that of his wife, since his ranch is located on the Arizona border with Mexico, on a route known for human and drug trafficking.
Kelly found the body of the Mexican hours after the events, during a tour of his land. However, his first call was to the Border Patrol and not to the emergency service.
The prosecutor’s office filed a new warrant last Friday to search Kelly’s ranch.
The case is attracting attention on both sides of the border due to the controversy generated by supporters of former President Donald Trump who describe Kelly as a “hero” and “patriot” who only defended their lands from the “invasion” of migrants and traffickers drugs.
Kelly is free after posting $1 million bail. Part of this money was donated by individuals through an account established on social networks.
For its part, the Government of Mexico assures that it is assisting the family of the deceased and two witnesses who were part of the group assure that they felt that Kelly was “hunting” them with a high-caliber rifle.
(c) EFE Agency
