Assistant Attorney General Russel Lorfing, prosecuting the case, and attorney Stephen Woodruff, representing defendant Fernando Quitano, 26, delivered their opening statements to a seven-person jury that was empanelled yesterday afternoon.
Judge David A. Wiseman presiding over the trial.
Quitano is being tried on charges of two counts of aggravated assault and battery, two counts of assault and battery, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery, theft, contempt, two counts of attempted first degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, and burglary.
On Oct. 23, 2009, the prosecution said Quitano attempted to kill Vivencio Martin, also known as Ben, and Ju Sang So, sales manager and owner respectively, of 24 Hours Pawnshop in Chalan Kanoa.
Quitano used a dangerous weapon — a machete, sledge hammer, and/or crow bar — the prosecution added.
Martin was the first government witness.
He said he was inside his room, the secured room of the pawnshop, when two individuals, wearing masks, forcefully entered the establishment, and broke the door leading to his room.
Martin said his attacker hit him four to five times in the head and different parts of the body using a crow bar.
As a result of the attack, Martin said nine staples were needed to close his head wound, and another two staples for the other wound on his head.
He also suffered a broken left arm that was replaced by a metal to restore it.
The 72-year-old father of his boss, who was also inside the pawnshop at the time of the incident, has returned to Korea, and promised not to return to the island because of the incident, Martin testified.
Martin said he and his boss are afraid since surviving the violent attack.
When the Variety left the courtroom, Martin was still on the witness stand.
Among the government witnesses was former Detective Christopher Deleon Guerrero, who has since retired after a federal jury found him not guilty of extortion.
In Nov. 2009, the Superior Court dismissed without prejudice the case against Quitano and defendant Marlon Martin after the Attorney General’s Office moved for its dismissal because the detective in charge of the case was not able to attend the preliminary hearing.
Last April, the Superior Court sentenced Marlon Martin to 14 years imprisonment, all suspended except for seven years.
Marlon Martin changed his plea as the trial court was in the process of selecting prospective jurors.
Charges against Zhuo Fang Zhang, the driver of the getaway vehicle, were dismissed without prejudice.
The prosecution refiled the case against Quitano.
At that time, Quitano escaped on getaway vehicle after he and Marlon Martin robbed the pawnshop and injured Vivencio Martin and Ju Sang So.
Marlon Martin was arrested by police while trying to flee.
The prosecution said a good Samaritan who witnessed the incident called police for assistance.
