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The case regarding the murder of the Cuban reggaeton artist José Manuel Carvajal, known as El Taiger, has once again reached a standstill this Monday in Miami, leaving family members, fans, and a significant portion of the Cuban community hanging in the balance after more than a year of waiting for justice. The hearing, which lasted only a minute, did not progress towards the trial and concluded with another postponement, according to Telemundo 51.
The accused, Damián Valdéz Galloso, has been in prison since 2024, but his judicial process remains stalled in the evidence-gathering phase. The prosecution stated that materials, statements, and witness coordination are still being analyzed, while the defense requested more time to review the case file from scratch.
His new lawyer, Ricardo Hermida, has just taken over the case following the resignation of the previous attorney, and he told the court that his team “is starting from the beginning,” a statement that came as a cold shower to those who were expecting progress.
The artist's former manager, Teresa M. Padrón, left the room upset and directly questioned the delay and the defense strategy.
“I imagined it would take him longer to get organized and interview the witnesses,” she told Telemundo 51, although she made it clear that for her, the delays are unjustified.
"If they have the weapon with which the act was committed, they have videos, they have everything... Damián has been in prison for over a year, and from what I see, this is going to last until the end of next year."
Padrón accused Valdéz Galloso of "taking advantage of the system" and lamented that, despite the existence of abundant evidence, the process is progressing very slowly.
The return to court has been scheduled for January 22, when Judge Milton Hirsch will assess whether the defense is truly ready to go to trial or if the postponement cycle will continue.
The discomfort intensified even more following the leak of sensitive images that are part of the case file, showing the moment when El Taiger falls after being shot and another video where his body is dragged.
Padrón described the disclosure as "fatal, horrible", and criticized both the prosecution and the media that published the material. "Not even his family had seen him in that condition. I feel that it is a disrespect, for the family, the children, and the fans of José," she said through tears.
While the judge ordered a new status hearing in 45 days, the case of El Taiger remains caught in judicial bureaucracy. With each postponement, the sense of frustration grows within the Cuban community in Miami, which is following the process with both hope and desperation, longing to finally see justice for the artist.
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