Prosecutor Marisol Sandoval (photo) asked Judge Alejandro Rosales to bring to an oral and public trial a criminal case against Walter Hammond, who was accused of crimes of damage and intimidation in the city of Sarmiento.
During October and November 2022, Walter David Hammond (33) was reported for damaging vehicles and threatening three friends of his former partner. For this reason the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) requested that the case be heard.
For his part, defense attorney Alejandro Fuentes proposed an economic compensation of 900,000 pesos to be distributed among the victims. The magistrate ordered a mediation panel for the purpose of analyzing the pleas of the parties and informed that during this week he would announce his resolution.
In the judicial act of the preliminary trial, Attorney Sandoval developed the facts that appear in the piece of public allegation. In this sense, it indicated that the first case occurred at 6:00 pm on October 24, 2022, in a house located in the Los Alamos neighborhood. According to the complaint, that afternoon Hammond entered the courtyard of the house and damaged all four wheels of the victim’s vehicle with a sharp object.
Three days later, the defendant was involved in a new case of violence. On Thursday, October 27, the owner of the damaged vehicle was walking along Estrada Avenue between Alberdi and Sarmiento Streets. In this connection, he met David Hammond who was driving his vehicle. The accused lowered the glass of the car. He had a knife in his hand and started gesturing. Finally, he said to the victim: “Now it’s your turn.”
The third incident took place on Sunday, 30 October at 6 pm, while the victim was driving his car. He did so with Hammond’s ex-accomplice and when they reached Perito Moreno street at the intersection of Alberdi and Uruguay streets, they saw the defendant’s vehicle approaching. Investigators indicated that Hammond pulled his vehicle in front of the victim’s car. Then, he intentionally bumped into her. The rear and front bumpers of the complainant’s vehicle were damaged.
Finally, on Thursday, 10 November, Hammond was once again convicted of the offense of damages. At this point, the victim stated that he was driving in his vehicle to Avenida 9 de Julio. At about 08:20, I reach the intersection with Ameggino Street. There Hammond, aboard his car, caught up with him and finally hit him.
The representative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office listed and detailed the means of testimonial and documentary evidence that the accused party would present at the oral and public pleadings hearings.
Regarding the legal merits, he said that Hammond is charged with the offenses of tort (three facts) and simple threats.
900 thousand rupees will be distributed
In turn, the private attorney prepares objections regarding the first act of condemned damage. In this context, he said that in the complaint lodged by the victim, there is mention of his assistant having a knife and a gun. For this reason, it was considered that the Prosecutor’s Office did not take investigative measures in view of the seriousness of the case.
Similarly, Fuentes also criticized the investigation conducted for the other three incidents in which Hammond was charged.
In this context, he requested that the accusatory piece be dismissed and that his assistance be granted by the Probative Orphanage.
On the other hand, he proposed to implement a method of reconciliation and reparation. In financial terms, he asked the magistrate to approve a settlement of 900,000 pesos to be distributed among the three victims.
In response, Attorney Sandoval opposed the proposal for an alternative way out of the conflict. Its foundation was based on the fact that Hammond had already obtained benefits through a summary judgment application made the previous year.
Judge Rosales proposed an intermediate room for the purpose of informing one of the complainants about the monetary compensation offer. Then, it will inform the parties about the respective resolution.
