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graniteclimber
Trad climber
Nowhere
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Dec 18, 2007 - 12:37am PT
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Not so good news. Eric has not been released yet and his freedom depends on the same sack of sh#t judge who found him guilty.
http://outside-blog.away.com/blog/2007/12/volz-still-wait.html
"Monday’s 2-1 ruling by a Nicaraguan appellate court called for Volz’s immediate release, but Judge Ivette Toruño, who presided over Volz’s first trial and declared him guilty, failed to make her 2:00 p.m. appointment to sign his release papers, according to Campbell."
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Dec 18, 2007 - 01:17am PT
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a tentative "god bless us, everyone."
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Nohea
Trad climber
Aiea,Hi
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Dec 18, 2007 - 03:49am PT
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Yea damn good news! Just pasted the WSJ update.
"Man Profiled in WSJ Is Freed
In Nicaraguan Murder Case
By JOHN LYONS
December 17, 2007 6:47 p.m.
American Eric Volz, a surfer turned real-estate broker who serving a 30-year jail term in Nicaraguan prison, was ordered freed Monday after an appeals court threw out his conviction in the murder of his Nicaraguan lover. Despite the order, Mr. Volz remained in custody late Monday.
Once freed, Mr. Volz was expected to depart Nicaragua immediately, said a Volz family spokeswoman, who declined to comment further until she could confirm Mr. Volz had left the country.
Mr. Volz's case was the subject of a page one article in The Wall Street Journal in March.
Mr. Volz was convicted in February of the murder along with a Nicaraguan man despite eyewitness accounts and other evidence that placed Mr. Volz in another city at the time of the murder. The exculpatory evidence was disallowed during a chaotic trial that saw the courtroom surrounded by angry protesters on at least two occasions, at one point forcing Mr. Volz and a U.S. Embassy security official to flee an angry mob in fear for their lives.
On Nov. 21, 2006, Mr. Volz's girlfiend, Doris Jimenez, was found gagged and strangled in the backroom of her boutique. Seven eyewitnesses provided testimony that they were with Mr. Volz all that day in his Managua home-office. They vouched that when he received the call with the bad news, he rented a car and sped to San Juan. Along the way, he picked up Ms. Jimenez's father, who is divorced from her mother. Phone records show calls being made from Mr. Volz's phone through Managua cell towers starting at around 10 a.m., and moving through new coverage areas headed to the coast.
On Nov. 23, 2006, Mr. Volz helped carry the coffin at Ms. Jimenez's burial. Later that day, he was stunned when police cuffed him, and prosecutors charged him and three other men with rape and murder. The rape charge further heightened local emotions, even though a crime scene report and an autopsy -- conducted after Ms. Jimenez was embalmed -- didn't conclude rape occurred.
Write to John Lyons at john.lyons@wsj.com "
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Carolyn C
Trad climber
the long, long trailer
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Dec 18, 2007 - 10:57am PT
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As of Wednesday morning he has still not been released. His mother is asking for people to contact their senators/congressman to put pressure on the Nicaraguan government to abide by their own ruling and release him. I do not know Eric Volz, but pray for his safety and hope that some of you may have time to email your representatives.
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Prod
Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
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Dec 18, 2007 - 02:04pm PT
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As of Yesterday from Friends of EricVolz.com.
DECEMBER 17, 2007
Eric's Conviction overturned by Appeals Court, but NOT YET FREE...
Here’s what we know.
Today, the Nicaraguan Appellate Court ruled 2-1 in favor of Innocence for Eric Volz and demanded his immediate release. In fulfillment of Nicaraguan law, Judge Ivette Toruno, the convicting judge who is required by law to sign the release papers, arranged for Eric’s attorney to pick-up the release papers at 2pm this afternoon. However, Toruno left the court at 1:30 and will not come back for the rest of the day. It is unclear as to whether or not she will be in the office tomorrow, as well.
Judge Toruno is currently in contempt of court by refusing to make her appointment and sign the release papers. Eric has been freed, but is still being detained illegally, against the orders of the Appellate Court.
Nicaraguan radio broadcasts have been announcing that the people need to take justice into their own hands, since word of the court’s decision. We are more concerned than ever before, for Eric’s safety.
It appears as if no one in the judicial, penal and/or immigration systems in Nicaragua is responding to requests by Eric’s attorney or by the US Embassy to process Eric’s release immediately as ordered by the court.
Maggie will appear on CNN AC360 TONIGHT and The Today Show tomorrow morning in the first hour.
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crøtch
climber
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Dec 19, 2007 - 06:48pm PT
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BUMP
Contact your senators & representatives. A call will only take 3 minutes of your time. Ask them to help bring Eric Volz back home.
Senator Boxer:
San Diego
(619) 239-3884
Sacramento
(916) 448-2787
Los Angeles
(213) 894-5000
San Francisco
(415) 403-0100
Senator Feinstein:
San Francisco
Phone: (415) 393-0707
Los Angeles
Phone: (310) 914-7300
San Diego
Phone: (619) 231-9712
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Kurt Arend
Social climber
CA
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Dec 19, 2007 - 07:04pm PT
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Hey guys just spoke with Feinstien's people and the best way to get her attention is to fax a formal letter with all the info that can be found on the situation.
FAX# (415)393-0710
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Dec 20, 2007 - 11:33am PT
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I was watching MSNBC this morning before work and they did an extensive piece about Eric. They say that the State Department and the U.S. embassey in Nicaragua are involved.
They also said that the Sandinista govt there isn't very friendly towards Americans. Could explain the obvious bias in the case. The judge is making silly excuses like not stapling appeal forms properly and other crap.
Still wouldn't hurt to call your rep's in government.
His mother did bring him some chocolate cake while he was in the prison hospital. They didn't explain why he was there.
Hang in there Eric, the cavalry is comin'.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Dec 20, 2007 - 12:16pm PT
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There is a small piece in todays San Jose Mercury News that the prosecutors are appealing his aquittal. They say that's why he hasn't been released yet.
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graniteclimber
Trad climber
Nowhere
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Dec 20, 2007 - 02:15pm PT
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The trial judge illegally held Eric, claiming the page numbers on the appeals court decision were incorrect.
Place a call or send a fax to the Nicaraguan embassy.
Embassy
The Republic of Nicaragua
1627 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20009
Telephone: (202) 939-6570
Fax: (202) 939-6542
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Phil_B
Social climber
Hercules, CA
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Dec 20, 2007 - 02:23pm PT
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From the Friends of Eric Volz website:
http://www.friendsofericvolz.com/updates.htm
Details are changing almost hourly, but here's what we know as of 10:30am Central, December 20th:
Judge Ivette Toruno, who initially convicted Eric for Doris' murder, is required to sign his release papers, but she has created various excuses to avoid doing so.
In the meantime, the original prosecutor of Eric's case (Isolda Ibarra) is attempting to overturn the Appellate Court ruling, and is filing an appeal to the Nicaraguan Supreme Court. She is asking that Eric be held in custody (illegally) until the Supreme Court rules. Typically, Supreme Court cases take years to process.
Nicaraguan law says that the order of the Appellate Court to free Eric should not be overridden by the filing of a Supreme Court appeal, but that Nicaraguan law is being ignored.
If Eric is held, he will certainly be moved back to the penitentiary, and may not be afforded even the minimal protection he had previously - he will be in the gravest of danger. Eric has kidney stones, and is still recovering from intestinal issues and severe asthma, which is why he has been in the prison hospital for more than 2 months now.
This morning, Penitentiary Director Molina dispatched a truck to take Eric back to the prison. This forced his visit with his mother Maggie to be cut short, due to security concerns.
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crøtch
climber
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Dec 20, 2007 - 06:47pm PT
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Copied from http://www.friendsofericvolz.com/updates.htm
"We are asking everyone to contact (a phone call would be more immediate, but follow up with an email if you can!) their elected representatives in the next few hours, to ask them to pressure the Nicaraguan government to carry out Eric's legal release from prison. The reason this is so urgent is that government offices leave tomorrow for the lengthy holidays... we need the US government to act IMMEDIATELY to compel the Nicaraguan government to honor their own law and release Eric Volz!
Call your representative with the question "What is being done to expedite Eric Volz's release from Nicaraguan custody?"
"
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graniteclimber
Trad climber
Nowhere
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Dec 21, 2007 - 02:33pm PT
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CNN is reporting that Eric was released today.
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Islander
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 21, 2007 - 04:57pm PT
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Finally, free.
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Prod
Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
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Dec 21, 2007 - 05:04pm PT
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Free and out of the country?
I sure hope so.
Prod.
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca
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Dec 21, 2007 - 06:46pm PT
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Here's an article on Outside Online - On that page there's a podcast of an 8 minute interview with Eric's mom:
http://outside-blog.away.com/blog/2007/12/qa-maggie-antho.html
This whole thing boggles the mind. Scratch Nicaragua off my list of places to ever visit.
Apparently they're outraged because "The Gringo" is being freed, while the Nicaraguan
suspect remains imprisoned for the crime, despite the fact that Eric was clearly not guilty.
Truly a harrowing, unbelievable nightmare to happen to someone who seemed to love
Nicaragua, its people and the culture. Words escape me...
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wiclimber
Trad climber
devil's lake, wi
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Dec 21, 2007 - 06:58pm PT
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i'm not one to dismiss visiting a country because of it's gov't, but f$%ck nicaragua.
the place is hot right now for cheap real estate. let em have it.
i hate to take this stance, but why risk it?
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Dec 21, 2007 - 07:07pm PT
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hey there all... i just saw this last night, but though all was well... should we still be praying... is the young man home, yet?
sure wont hurt, so i will... god bless you in letting folks know more about all this...
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