Damián Valdez Galloso, accused of the murder of Cuban reggaeton artist José Manuel Carvajal Zaldívar (El Taiger), appeared this Tuesday before the Miami-Dade County criminal court in a hearing that made it clear the trial will not take place in September as previously scheduled.
According to journalist Javier Díaz from Univisión, it was the first time the accused appeared physically before the court since awaiting a definite date for his trial.
The trial is postponed to 2027
The judge indicated that the trial will likely take place in February or March 2027, granting both parties about six additional months to prepare, which represents a significant change from the date originally set for September 15, 2026.
As the next procedural step, a status hearing has been scheduled for September 2, where the progress of the case will be reviewed and the possible inclusion of additional witnesses or experts will be discussed.
Complications in the research
During the hearing, several obstacles were revealed that have slowed down the process.
The prosecution plans to call between 15 and 20 witnesses during the trial, Díaz reported.
The case presents additional complications because the investigation involved three different police departments - Miami, Hialeah, and Metro Dade - which has hindered coordination.
The main evidence from the Metro Dade department is still pending.
The defense attorney informed the judge that the process of taking statements had been delayed because her secretary is on maternity leave, although she will return next week.
Friends and supporters demand "Justice for José" at the courthouse doors
Outside the courthouse, family, friends, and supporters of the deceased artist gathered with signs that read "Justice for José", summoned by Teresa María Padrón, who was El Taiger's manager and has been one of the most vocal advocates demanding justice.
Teresa herself had made a request to the followers of the deceased reggaeton artist to attend today's hearing.
"For those who are going, no one should speak in the courtroom; if they do, they may be expelled or arrested. We go in a spirit of peace and respect for the court, with the sole objective of seeking justice for José!" Teresa warned in her Instagram stories.
The charges and the defense's position
Valdez Galloso is facing three charges: first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The accused had pleaded not guilty and his defense argues that he acted in self-defense, pointing to another person as responsible for the shooting.
The prosecution, which ruled out the death penalty, is seeking mandatory life imprisonment and has recordings from security cameras, DNA samples, more than 1,200 photographs, and forensic documents, in addition to a 911 call in which Valdez Galloso allegedly pretended to be a witness who found the vehicle with the victim.
The ex-partner who said, "I saw nothing."
In the previous weeks, the audio of the police interrogation of Ana María Pérez, the accused's former partner, was released, conducted two days after the crime.
Pérez stated to detectives that upon arriving at Valdez Galloso's home, he found no traces of the attack: "No, there was no blood or anything."
Regarding the responsibility of the accused, she was categorical: “I cannot assure you that he was or that he wasn’t, because I did not see him.”
The woman also recounted that, upon learning about the case through the news, she called Valdez Galloso and asked him, "What did you do?" after which he hung up the call.
El Taiger was shot on October 3, 2024, in Hialeah.
According to the prosecutor's office, Valdez Galloso shot El Taiger in the forehead, transported his body in a black Mercedes-Benz, and abandoned it in front of Jackson Memorial Hospital. The artist, 37 years old, passed away seven days later.
The case will have its next hearing on September 2, when the judge will review the status of the investigation and determine whether the trial will be definitively scheduled for early 2027.
Filed under: