Attorney: Lone suspect in slaying of US journalist in Mexico to be freed for lack of evidence

Suspect in reporter’s death in Mexico to be freed

OAXACA, Mexico — The lone suspect in the slaying of an independent U.S. journalist more than three years ago will be released for lack of evidence, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Juan Martinez Moreno, has been cleared by a federal court and should be released Thursday, attorney Alba Cruz said.

Many human rights groups have claimed Martinez was unfairly charged with the death of Bradley Will, 36, of New York.

Will was shot and killed in October 2006 as he filmed a clash between protesters and government supporters during a five-month political uprising in the southern state of Oaxaca. He was covering the conflict for Indymedia.org.

Martinez was charged with homicide. Two others were charged with allegedly covering up the crime, but were later released. All three are supporters of the radical movement known as the People’s Assembly of Oaxaca, or APPO, which seized control of Oaxaca city for almost five months in 2006 to push for the ouster of Gov. Ulises Ruiz.

Critics said prosecutors ignored evidence that implicated supporters of the state government in Will’s death. The prosecutors have failed to give specifics about the ballistics evidence or explain why Martinez would have fired at Will, who supported the protest movement.