Jurors start deliberating in store burglary case

Posted on Oct 14 2015

Tag: Attorney Colin Thompson, Daniel Rangamar, Harvest Market, Melchor Mendiola

Jurors began deliberating yesterday afternoon in the trial on Rota of Benjamin Mafnas Hattori, who is accused of aiding another person in the 2012 burglary of a store owned by former mayor Melchor Mendiola.

The jurors went home at 5:55pm and are going to continue deliberations today at 8:30am, Wednesday, Saipan Tribune learned.

The trial started yesterday morning. Eight jurors, including two alternates, were chosen out of 75 jurors present.

The Office of the Attorney General charged Hattori with aiding and abetting in the burglary of Harvest Market, where cigarettes and coins from the cash register were stolen in May 2012.

Hattori’s co-defendant, Daniel Rangamar, has already pleaded guilty.

Assistant attorney general Emily Cohen called four witnesses: two Harvest Market employees and two Rota police officers. After calling the fourth witness, the government rested its case.

Attorney Colin Thompson, the court-appointed counsel for Hattori, did not call any witnesses.

Ferdie De La Torre | Reporter

Ferdie Ponce de la Torre is a senior reporter of Saipan Tribune. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has covered all news beats in the CNMI. He is a recipient of the CNMI Supreme Court Justice Award. Contact him at ferdie_delatorre@Saipantribune.com

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