Possible irregularities in the Romina Case investigation continue to come to light. The lawyer for Romina Celeste's family, Emilia Zaballos, will file a lawsuit against the investigating judge who has been in charge of the last part of the case. The lawyer praises the good management carried out by the judge who was in charge of the first proceedings, but questions the work of the current judge and the prosecutor of the Provincial Court of Las Palmas.
In addition to the lawsuit, the lawyer has filed a complaint against the prosecutor of the Provincial Court of Las Palmas for his handling of the case. "He let the matter die," she said in an interview on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero. She also filed a second complaint against the Bar Association, the procedure stipulated to reach the General Council of Spanish Lawyers, for the "abusive" use of defense resources.
Last January, Raúl Díaz Cachón, accused of killing and dismembering his wife, was released from prison after remaining in pre-trial detention for the maximum time stipulated by law. Romina Celeste's alleged murderer spent four years in prison without a trial date being set. "It is an atrocity and a legal barbarity to keep a person in pre-trial detention for four years," stressed the victim's family's defense lawyer.
In the same vein, she emphasizes that, in addition, none of the official documents specify that the case was awaiting trial with a person already in prison. "Imagine if it were an innocent person in prison and they were not given priority," she exemplifies.
She also points to the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) for this delay, reminding them that "they must be aware when two-thirds of the deprivation of liberty is reached so that this case is automatically prioritized." The lawyer insists that the role of the TSJC has not been as expected and "has not demanded that the investigating court expedite the procedure."
Regarding the second complaint, the one filed against the Bar Association, she seeks to reach the General Council of Spanish Lawyers. In her opinion, Raúl Díaz's defense delayed the investigation by making an "abusive" use of resources. Among them, he presented the scissors with which he could have dismembered his partner to corroborate that they could cut human flesh.
The scissors procedure began in 2019 and three years passed waiting for them to be analyzed. Similarly, the lawyer insists that the scissors do not change the outcome of the sentence in terms of penalties. Therefore, she considers it an unnecessary resource with the aim of delaying the case in time. "The deontological norms also state that unnecessary resources cannot be used," she recalls.
With the same purpose, the defense also submitted a psychological expert report that lasted for two and a half years. Zaballos describes this document as "brutal," which tried to prove that on the day of Romina's murder, Raúl Díaz had consumed drugs. "The report is about Romina, about what he tells her, and it almost ends up saying that she deserved it," explains the lawyer.
In addition to the two complaints already filed, Emilia Zaballos has confirmed that she has instructions from Romina Celeste's family to take other actions for the lack of transparency in the way the inspection has been carried out. In this case against the president of the Provincial Court of Las Palmas, Emilio Moya. "I have not seen a case like this in 35 years in the profession," the lawyer narrated.
The two new complaints announced by the lawyer have not been the only measures that question the role of justice in the investigation of the case. This Wednesday it was announced that the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) will investigate the actions carried out by the Investigating Court number one of Arrecife, in charge of the case.
Four years after the murder of Romina Celeste, there is still no date for the trial. "The lawyer is on strike and, meanwhile, the Provincial Court cannot set a date for the trial." Meanwhile, the defense of Romina Celeste's family insists that there are probabilities that the accused of the murder will escape.
Currently, after leaving the Tahiche prison, Raúl Díaz moved to the Peninsula, although he handed over his passport. For the moment, he must declare every Monday in court and continue residing in Spain. "A similar situation could occur again."
