The attorney representing one of the suspects accused in the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Texas has filed for a protective order, aiming to mitigate the impact of negative media coverage on his client’s right to a fair trial.
Two Venezuelan nationals, 21-year-old Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and 26-year-old Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, face capital murder charges following the discovery of Nungaray’s body in a Houston creek on June 17.
Authorities say the 12-year-old had been strangled to death. The suspects reportedly entered the U.S. illegally earlier this year.
Peña’s legal team filed for a protective order to restrict law enforcement, court personnel, and others from making public statements or sharing information about the case. According to the filing Peña’s attorneys argued that the intense media attention could lead to “undue prejudice” during the trial.
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The motion stated that additional public comments could jeopardize Peña’s right to a fair trial, as guaranteed by the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution’s Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments. Peña’s legal team also cited Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg’s statements, including her remarks that this was a “horrific crime” and that “the immigration system is broken,” as examples of comments that could influence public opinion and affect the fairness of the trial.
The filing concludes with a request for all parties involved to refrain from making further public statements or disseminating information related to the case, whether previously disclosed or not, and to ensure that the defendant’s right to a fair trial is upheld.
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