This Tuesday, a key hearing was scheduled in the Miami court for the murder of Cuban reggaeton artist José Manuel Carbajal Zaldívar, known as El Taiger, but it has been postponed to October 15.
This also indicates a new delay in the start of the trial, which was scheduled for September.
The postponement, the cause of which has not been specified by the local press, raised the concern of Teresa Padrón, the artist's former manager and close friend, who mourned the lack of progress in the case.
“There is nothing, they are not interviewing the witnesses; actually, I don't see any kind of preparation for the trial. I believe they are going to keep postponing it,” declared to Telemundo 51.
"I don’t know what is actually happening, but I hope and ask God that they will resolve their issues soon, and that the trial begins soon,” she added.
Padrón, who has closely followed the call for justice since the singer's death, also warned that he fears that the prosecution and the defense will reach an agreement that reduces the defendant's sentence, a concern he has also expressed in previous interviews.
"I hope they do not reach an agreement that ultimately benefits the responsible party," he concluded, emphasizing that his wish is for the maximum penalty to be imposed if guilt is proven.
This Tuesday, the journalist from Univision, Javier Díaz, explained how those who wish to attend the trial for the death of El Taiger can do so.
A commitment that doesn’t stop
On August 10th, marking ten months since El Taiger's death, Teresa Padrón published an emotional message on Instagram in which she renewed her commitment to seeking justice and reiterated how much she misses the singer:
“Today I understand so much… without understanding anything at all. Ten months, how quickly time has passed, brother, how much sadness your absence brings! Sometimes life weighs on me, and I feel I can't go on, but I remember that God put you in my path for a purpose, and that gives me strength to continue. My fight for you is not over because your memory lives in every truth I defend; I will keep demanding justice for you until it is achieved. I miss you more than words can express. Your absence is great, but your presence in my heart will always remain. ALWAYS JOSÉ. JUSTICE FOR JOSÉ,” he wrote.
A trial that remains on hold
The postponement of the hearing also delays the trial, which was originally set to begin on September 15.
It is expected that in the next court hearing, the judge will set a new date for the start of the proceedings against Damian Valdes Galloso, charged with first-degree murder.
According to the investigation, on October 3, 2024, Valdes Galloso reportedly shot at El Taiger, inflicting injuries that resulted in his death a week later.
The defendant's version and the stance of the prosecution
In an interrogation conducted in New York, the accused stated that on the morning of the incident, the singer arrived at his home with another person and asked him for money. According to his account, he stepped away for a few minutes, and upon returning, he found him injured on the floor.
The accused not only denied having committed the murder, but also further made serious accusations against the Miami police, suggesting that an officer might be involved in the events.
Teresa Padrón expressed her outrage at the attitude of Damian Valdez Galloso during the interrogation.
“It makes me very angry. And I can't watch it all because it makes me very, very angry, because I can't believe that a person can laugh like that…”You took the life of that man whom you say ate at your house and was your brother”, she pointed out in recent statements to Univision.
The prosecution, however, claims that there are videos of the moment of the attack and that Valdes Galloso is the only suspect. If found guilty, he could face life in prison.
Meanwhile, family, friends, and fans of the reggaeton artist continue to watch the proceedings closely, fearing that so many delays will ultimately dilute the justice they seek.
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