Murder trial begins in Nicaragua for suspects in Argentine troubadour’s death

MANAGUA, Nicaragua – A criminal court in Nicaragua on Wednesday began the trial of businessman Henry Fariñas, survivor of the attack that killed Argentine troubadour Facundo Cabral on July 9, 2011.

The trial also includes 23 other defendants accused of belonging to a crime network that trafficked drugs and laundered money for Colombian and Mexican cartels.

Managua judge Adela Cardoza scheduled hearings to start at 1 p.m., and 24 defendants, a former judge and some 80 witnesses are expected to testify in the trial.

The prosecution accuses Fariñas, arrested on March 29 in Managua, of being “part of the criminal structure” led by Costa Rican Alejandro Jiménez, aka “El Palidejo” (paleface), imprisoned in Guatemala on charges of masterminding the attack that killed Cabral in Guatemala City.

Fariñas, a 41-year-old entrepreneur who owns several nightclubs in Central America, denies the charges and has declared himself a victim of harassment and pressure from Nicaraguan police to confess to charges against him.