HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The arraignment of the fifth suspect in the Susuico murder case did not proceed, as the defense attorney assigned by the court withdrew from the case for a couple of reasons.
Gregory Reese, 43, appeared before Superior Court Judge Benjamin Sison on Tuesday for a scheduled arraignment hearing after he was indicted in the death of retired National Guard recruiter Jason Susuico, whose remains were found decomposing in the jungle near the former Guam Raceway Park in Yigo in January 2023.
However, his attorney, Geri Diaz informed the court that she could not represent Reese in the felony case.
“I have never handled a first-degree felony such as has been charged against Mr. Reese in this case. Also, I indicated in my motion that I, to be quite personal, have a relationship with Mr. Susuico’s commander, and I believe that also presents an issue with me representing Mr. Reese in this case,” Diaz told the court.
Reese, whose alleged role in the Susuico slaying is unknown, was named in a superseding indictment in December 2023.
According to Diaz, she has never represented a defendant in a first-degree felony case on Guam or anywhere else she has practiced.
According to the U.S. Constitution, it is a Sixth Amendment right for defendants to have legal representation when facing prosecution to ensure their right to a fair trial.
With the success of a person’s trial largely dependent on the ability of the defendant’s attorney to provide an adequate defense and Diaz’s competency at issue, Judge Sison accepted the motion to withdraw and told Reese a new attorney would be appointed.
Since the start of the investigation, Jordan Michael Babauta, 32, Brandon Rufus Chandler, 34, Jason Keith Manibusan, 46, and Cynthia Rose Quinata, 47, had been identified as suspects by the Guam Police Department and subsequently charged in the Superior Court of Guam, Post files state.
According to the indictment, Babauta was charged with aggravated murder, aggravated assault, attempted identity theft and attempted theft. Chandler, Manibusan and Reese were charged with murder, complicity to commit murder and aggravated assault. Quinata was charged with complicity to commit murder.
Gregory Lathaniel Reese
