Costa Rica criminal court extends Jairo Mora murder trial to January

Update, 9:25 a.m. Dec. 8, 2014: Landslides on Route 32 between Limón and San José Monday have delayed the trial again. Court officials say multiple members of the defense team are unable to get to Limón on-time due to traffic delays.

Illness, missing evidence and other delays have caused the murder trial of seven defendants accused of killing Costa Rican conservationist Jairo Mora to fall behind schedule. Judges in Limón now say they will extend the trial to Jan. 16.

The court had been expected to reach a verdict next week, but it will now wait until holiday recess – which lasts from Dec. 20 to Jan. 4 – is over.

According to the daily La Nación, an attorney representing Mora’s family in a civil lawsuit will not continue with the trial due to previous commitments. Instead, the government will provide four public defendants to take his place.

Seven Costa Rican men are on trial for homicide, kidnapping and other charges stemming from the 2013 killing of the sea turtle conservationist. The murder has sparked international outrage and renewed calls for Costa Rica to protect its environmental workers.

Read all of our coverage of the Jairo Mora case here