- Title: MEXICO: CO-HOST ARRESTED FOR TV STARS' SLAYING.
- Date: 28th August 1999
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (AUGUST 27, 1999) (REUTERS) MV: MEDIA GATHERED OUTSIDE HOME OF MARIO BEZARES MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FRANCISCO "PACO" STANLEY AND CO-HOST MARIO BEZARES SAYING: "I am calling on the president of this country because I believe in this country's justice system but as long as it is done right. Unfortunately, there are those who tear the system to piece
- Embargoed: 12th September 1999 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City:
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Crime,Entertainment,General
- Reuters ID: LVAMH14Y5XXPMS2KV84RJ3I0Z3Y
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- Story Text: Mexican authorities have arrested a television personality, two aides, a showgirl and a suspected hit man in the drug-related slaying of another TV star, Francisco "Paco"
Stanley.The case has captivated Mexico due to the fame of the personalities involved, their possible links to the drug underworld and public outrage over rising crime.
Television co-host Mario Bezares, Stanley's comic sidekick on a series of variety shows, who was carted off by police on Friday (August 27) in front of a battery of journalists camped outside his Mexico City home.
"Where is justice?" a teary eyed Bezares said before he was arrested by agents of the Mexico City Attorney General's office, calling the charges a trumped-up attempt to "ruin my life."
Bezares, often the butt of Stanley's jokes on the air, previously had been identified as one of the prime suspects in the assassination, in which Stanley and a bystander were shot to death in a hail of bullets as Stanley sat in the passenger seat of his luxury car outside a restaurant.
His wife also pleaded the authorities let him go.
"We are so tired, my husband is innocent.Please, let us not commit another injustice," Brenda Jimenez said.
Three others were injured in the attack while Bezares, who had just joined Stanley, 56, for a late breakfast, was in the restaurant's restroom.
Police also arrested four other people including Erasmo Perez, alias "El Cholo," who was previously identified as the suspected trigger man.A big bald man with a bushy moustache and tattoos covering his back, Perez says he is innocent and was being prejudged because of his looks.
Jorge Garcia, who was in the driver's seat when Stanley was killed but was unharmed, Paola Durante, a hostess on the Stanley-Bezares show and Jose Luis Martinez, a personal assistant to Bezares, were arrested as well.
The judge also named as a key player in the alleged conspiracy Luis Amezcua, already in jail as the suspected capo of a major methamphetamine smuggling cartel that U.S.
authorities have called the top supplier of "speed" to the United States.Amezcua and his brother Jesus are under indictment in the United States.
Bezares and the other four suspects had been held under house arrest without charge in downtown Mexico City hotels that are used by investigators while they gather evidence.
Bezares recently won the right to leave the hotel and continue his house arrest at home.The others were arrested in their hotel rooms.
Prosecutors now will ask the courts to formally charge Bezares and the others and hold them in jail pending trial. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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