The trial against Yordanis Cobos-Martínez, the Cuban accused of murdering his boss with a machete in a Dallas motel in 2025, has no set date after a status hearing in which the defense claimed it is facing difficulties in investigating the defendant's background in Cuba.
According to FOX 4, the public defender Lalon “Clipper” Peale explained before Judge Lela Lawrence Mays during a status hearing held at the Frank Crowley Courthouse, which houses the Dallas County Criminal Court, that he has still not been able to travel to the island to gather relevant information for the preparation of the case.
"People look at the flight schedules and say, 'Well, there are flights leaving today.' But it's not just about the flights; it's about the visas needed to go there. And as the state already knows, the wait is six months," the lawyer noted during the hearing.
Peale also stated that there is a "huge gap" in defense research, although he refrained from providing details due to the presence of media in the room, adding that they would be addressed privately with the court.
The most optimistic forecast is that the trial could begin between late spring and early summer of 2027.
The case dates back to September 10, 2025, when the attack took place at the Downtown Suites motel in East Dallas.
During the hearing, prosecutor Jessica Lynch reported that the prosecutor's office had provided the defense with the required evidence, including information extracted from the victim's and the defendant's cell phones.
According to court documents cited by the authorities, Cobos-Martínez allegedly argued with his boss, Chandra "Bob" Nagamallaiah, before returning armed with a machete and attacking him. The prosecution asserts that the victim's family witnessed part of the incident and attempted to intervene.
After the attack, Cobos-Martínez was arrested by the police after being pursued by units from the Dallas Fire Department. According to investigators, the accused made statements to authorities regarding the events that took place.
The prosecutor confirmed that it will not seek the death penalty, although Cobos-Martínez is still facing a charge of capital murder. The formal accusation was presented by a grand jury in Dallas County in October 2025.
The case has also attracted attention due to the defendant's immigration history. ICE reported that he had a final order of deportation but remained in the United States under supervision after Cuba refused to accept him.
According to the authorities, at the time of the crime there was also an active arrest warrant for an alleged violation of probation in California, related to a previous conviction.
Cobos-Martínez remains in custody at the Dallas County Jail with a bail set at $1.25 million and an immigration hold placed by ICE.
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