High Court Sets Trial Dates in Ladyville Double Murder Case

Two men facing separate murder charges involving their spouses returned to the High Court this afternoon for further case management conferences before Candace Nanton.  The first matter involved 39-year-old Ladyville barber Miguelito Encalada, accused of the 2023 killings of his wife, Desiree Elizabeth Gonzalez, and his brother, George Vincent Rochester, on Scissors Tail Street in Ladyville. During the pre-trial hearing, the prosecution, led by Crown Counsel Denfield Dennison, indicated it intends to call one live witness for full testimony, two for cross-examination only, and present three agreed statements.  Defense attorney Hurl Hamilton signaled he will challenge the admissibility of an interview allegedly conducted by police, arguing procedural concerns despite a video recording of the session. A voir dire, a separate hearing to determine admissibility of evidence, is expected before the trial begins. The court ordered the defense to file written grounds by February 28, with the Crown to respond by March 12.  Trial dates have been scheduled for March 19, 20, and March 23–27 and 30–31, with the hearing expected to last approximately nine days.