El Chapo may take the witness stand during his own trial
They might have to raise the seat.
Notorious Mexican cartel kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman could take the witness stand in his own defense, it was revealed in court Tuesday.
The news came after Assistant US Attorney Gina Parlaveccio told Brooklyn federal court Judge Brian Cogan that prosecutors had yet to receive the defense’s witness list.
“Mr. Guzman’s name, you have Mr. Guzman’s name?” defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman responded.
“El Chapo,” whose nickname means “Shorty,” is facing a 17-count indictment on drug trafficking, murder conspiracy and firearms charges.
Lichtman later clarified it was not a done deal that the runty kingpin, who is notoriously tight-lipped in public, would take the stand, saying it was just a possibility.
Every defendant has the constitutional right to testify on their own behalf.
Prosecutors have said they plan to wrap up their case against the accused drug lord at the end of next week.
The defense team has said they’ll mount a case, though they have not released the names of other prospective witnesses.
Source: Read Full Article