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Speedy trial date set for man in murder case
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Posted on Apr 09 2019
After over a year of delay, a speedy trial date has finally been set for a man who allegedly killed his landlord and injured her husband.
Last week, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho scheduled Alfonso Sebastian Parongan, 56, for a speedy trial on May 15, 2019, over a year since he was arrested for first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
The alleged incident took place back in October 2017. Due to the long wait, Parongan’s lawyer, assistant public defender Nancy Dominski, filed for the dismissal of the charges against her client.
However, assistant attorney general Robert Lee claimed that the delay was caused by the defense.
The court declined to rule on the motion to dismiss the charges against Parongan. Instead, it decided to push forward with the speedy trial.
According to the official response from the government, Parongan, through his lawyer, caused the delay after he pleaded not guilty for reason of insanity and asked to hire an off-island expert to evaluate him.
“Parongan initiated the delay by moving for a mental examination and report to support his insanity defense. Defendant also benefitted from the delay because Dr. Martin Blinder’s evaluation is essential to his defense,” Lee said.
In a previous article on Saipan Tribune, Parongan admitted attacking his landlord and her husband on the evening of Oct. 29, 2017.
Parongan told detectives that he was high on drugs and was drunk on the day of the incident.
Josefina Pineda, 53, suffered multiple stab wounds, including a fatal four-inch slash in the neck, according to detectives.
Her husband, Antonio Barit, 62, sustained 12 slashes in the head, upper body, and right arm.
Pineda was allegedly trying to collect house rental from Parongan at the time and they got into an argument.
