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Court rules out murder in hotel painter’s death
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Posted on Sep 27 2004
The Superior Court yesterday dropped the murder charge against Edgardo Palma, the worker accused of mauling a hotel painter who later died due to serious injuries.
Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo, however, upheld that there was reason to believe that Palma probably committed the offenses of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and battery, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.
On cross-examination by Assistant Public Defender Jennifer Ahnstedt, police detective Juan Santos earlier said that Palma had no intention to duel with Luciano Ortiz at the parking lot of the Dai Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach last Aug. 13.
The investigator agreed with witnesses’ accounts that Ortiz bothered his co-worker, Guada Santos, and followed her to the parking lot. He also agreed that Ortiz pestered Santos as to whether or not Palma was her boyfriend.
Palma and Ortiz figured in a fight at the hotel’s parking lot. Ortiz died after days of confinement at the Commonwealth Health Center’s intensive care unit, where he was hooked to a life-support system. Ortiz reportedly sustained a fractured skull during the fight.
Palma remains in custody at the Division of Corrections in Susupe.
