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Judge finds probable cause against murder suspect
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Posted on May 27 2009
The Superior Court found probable cause yesterday to file murder charges against Ezra Kaainoa Deleon Guerrero for killing Korean businessman Jae Soung Shim during a robbery at a store in Tanapag.
At a preliminary hearing, Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona ordered the 25-year-old Deleon Guerrero to answer the charges of two counts of murder in the first degree, one count of murder in the second degree, one count of robbery, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.
After hearing the testimony of the CNMI government’s witness, reviewing the evidence presented, and hearing the arguments of counsel, Manglona said the prosecution presented enough evidence to establish probable cause that the offenses were committed and that the defendant committed these offenses.
No bail was imposed. Arraignment was set for Monday, June 1.
At the hearing, Chief Prosecutor Kevin Lynch called to the witness stand case officer Detective Chris Leon Guerrero.
Assistant Public Defender Douglas Hartig served as counsel for the defendant.
Police arrested Deleon Guerrero for the murder of the 65-year-old Shim after a robbery inside the victim’s store in Tanapag last May 17.
A detective stated in his report that prior to the attack, a witness saw Deleon Guerrero put on a black ski mask and say: “This is good for Papa-san, no!” The witness stated that the suspect appeared drunk.
The suspect was later seen handing out bills to children at a house near Shim’s store, New Star Market. A witness heard the defendant bragging he had just knocked out Papa-san.
Shim, also known as Papa-sang in Tanapag village, was reading something behind the cashier’s counter when Deleon Guerrero allegedly entered and repeatedly hit him with a tangan-tangan stick on the head.
Autopsy showed that the victim sustained multiple skull fractures due to repeated blows to the head.
A police officer told Saipan Tribune yesterday that Shim’s body was brought to South Korea Monday night. The victim’s daughter, who is in Michigan, arrived on Saipan Sunday and left the following day to attend the funeral in Korea.
