- Title: VENEZUELA: BASEBALL - U.S. star Urbina jailed in Venezuela pending trial
- Date: 11th November 2005
- Summary: VALLES DEL TUY, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 9, 2005) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WITH RELATIVES OF THOSE WHO WERE ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED CARRYING SIGNS SAYING "JUSTICE", "WE DON'T WANT THAT MONSTER FREE" AND "ENOUGH OF YOUR AGGRESSION" VARIOUS OF RICARDO DOSAL, ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY CUT BY A MACHETE, SHOWING HIS WOUNDS MEDIA (SOUN
- Embargoed: 26th November 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA1ZVEHCBK7UAJTK33AZISLB3WW
- Story Text: U.S. baseball star Ugueth Urbina was jailed by a Venezuelan judge on Wednesday (November 9) pending his trial for attempted murder after employees of the former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher accused him of assault. Relatives of the alleged victims waited outside as the judge decided whether to grant bail for Urbina, carrying signs saying "We don't want that monster free" and "Justice". The 31-year-old Urbina, a native Venezuelan who made $4 million last season with the Phillies and the Detroit Tigers, was arrested on Monday (November 7) by authorities who accused him and his friends of using machetes to attack workers at his family farm last month.
One of the alleged victims, Ricardo Dosal, said he hoped that Urbina didn't get out.
"Well, we hope that it will be today, that he stays in prison, that he isn't freed, that he is tried and imprisoned," he said.
At a hearing, the judge ordered that he must remain in jail so he cannot flee Venezuela before his trial after prosecutors charged him with attempted homicide and criminal conspiracy, his lawyer said.
Antonio Molina, lawyer for the attacked workers, announced that the judge had decided to deny bail. "He pronounced a measure preventing the release of Ugueth Urbina, because of having found him to be involved in the presumed commission of the crimes of attempted homicide and criminal conspiracy," he said.
According to Attorney General Jesus Gutierrez, Urbina will be detained in the judicial boarding house of Los Teques. "He will basically be there like any other citizen. He will be given the security that the person and case requires, as he is a professional person who makes a living as a baseball player," said Gutierrez.
But Urbina's lawyer, Jose Luis Tamayo said he would appeal the ruling.
"The only thing clear, that is in these proceedings, is that nothing is clear. Because of the series of vices that are being presented, regarding the statements, the series of contradictions, some statements that overlap with others, the facts don't agree," he said.
Farm workers told police and local media that Urbina and his associates beat them, attacked them with machetes and doused them with gasoline and paint thinner in an attempt to set fire to them at the ranch.
Local newspapers have reported a fight may have broken out at the farm when a handgun disappeared. Urbina, has denied the accusations and says he is the victim of a blackmail scam.
A star relief pitcher for the 2003 World Series champions the Florida Marlins, Urbina is one of dozens of Venezuelans playing professional baseball in the United States. He has also played for the Montreal Expos and the Boston Red Sox.
Baseball players are stars in Venezuela, where the game is is a national passion.
Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who is Venezuelan, last week took the Major League Baseball World Series trophy to Caracas on its first trip outside North America after leading his team to victory in October. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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