El Diario.mx (December 3, 2015) Source: Reforma. Translated by un vato for Borderland Beat [This is a follow-up to Lucio's earlier post in which Hipolito Mora's lawyer still expressed some optimism that he would be released today. It appears that the judge has ruled that there are sufficient evidentiary elements to sustain a murder charge, so they will remain in prison until trial. --un vato]
MORELIA, Michoacan.-- The First Criminal Court issued an order of formal imprisonment for the founder of the self defense forces in Michoacan, Hipoplito Mora.
The judge ruled that there are elements to charge the activist and 26 of his men for the shootout on December 16 in La Ruana, which left 11 people dead.
(Mora), also a commander with the Rural Police (Fuerza Rural), was arrested on December 27, after he negotiated with authorities for his and his group's surrender. That same day, they were confined in the Mil Cumbres prison, charged with homicide.
The State Attorney General imputed responsibility to these 27 individuals for 10 of the 11 deaths that resulted from the shootout they sustained against the followers of the former Rural Police commander, Luis Antonio Torres, "El Americano".
The defense argued that its clients acted in self defense and were carrying out their duties.
Still pending is the resolution regarding the other 10 detainees, among them "El Americano", which will be known next Monday.