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Noh Mul Case Will Start Next Time
posted (July 14, 2014)
In May of last year, the media uncovered the mauling of the Noh Mul archaeological site in which a company was scrapping it for road fill materials. Even more startling than that was the revelation that UDP Standard Bearer for Orange Walk Central Denny Grijalva was implicated in that scandal because it was his business, De-Mars Stone Company, which was accused of the crime.

A few weeks later, Denny Grijalva, and his wife Emelda Grijalva, who represented as Managing Directors for De-Mars Stone Company, Javier Nunez, their foreman, and excavator driver Emil Cruz were all marched to court on charges for it. It's been 14 months since that revelation, and today, all accused persons went back to court ready to stand trial.

Our colleagues from CTV3 News were summoned by the prosecution to testify as witnesses against the defendants, but the case didn't actually progress as it was supposed to.

The prosecution was represented by Crown Counsel Crown Leeroy Banner, who was ready to proceed, but the sitting Magistrate wasn't. Magistrate Hurl Hamilton informed the court that he had to become acquainted with the materials because it was recently handed over to him. With that he adjourned the matter to October 14, when it is expected to actually begin in earnest.

The company, represented by the Grijalva's, is currently with 1 count of removing parts of an ancient monument, and 1 count of causing the destruction of an ancient monument. Cruz is charged with removal of stone from an ancient monument without a permit and willfully damaging an ancient monument. Nunez was also charged with willfully causing the removal of stone from an ancient monument and willfully causing the damaging of an ancient monument.

As we've reported, Denny Grijalva has already publicly conceded guilt for the damage to Noh Mul.

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