Trial in Pasco nightclub homicide delayed 2 months

The attorney for the alleged shooter in a Pasco murder case said she can’t go to trial in two weeks because she needs to hire an expert following recent developments.

Santos Flores-Alcaide, 28, and his nephew, Enrique Alcaide, 22, had been set to face a jury on Feb. 22 for the shooting outside La Tropicana dance club. They are being tried together.

But on Tuesday, Shelley Ajax — Flores-Alcaide’s lawyer — informed the court that after interviewing all of the witnesses, “we determined we have to have a forensic pathologist on our side.”

Ajax contacted a number of experts but they either aren’t available in that short of time or haven’t responded, she said.

“We simply can’t proceed,” said Ajax, noting that it was an adequate reason for the court to grant a good-cause continuance.

Richard A. Smith, who represents Alcaide, said his client did not object to the request.

The new trial is set for April 25, though it may move forward a week to April 18 if the dates change on an unrelated federal case being handled by Smith.

The Franklin County Superior Court trial is expected to last up to three weeks.

The uncle and nephew are charged with one count each of first-degree murder.

Flores-Alcaide also faces felony charges of first-degree assault and possession of a stolen gun.

Prosecutors allege they confronted Eduardo Angon Del Villar, 19, outside the West Columbia Street club on Aug. 30 and a fight broke out between Angon Del Villar and Alcaide.

At one point Alcaide allegedly told his uncle to get a pistol from their truck, and Flores-Alcaide returned to fire several shots at close range at Angon Del Villar.

Flores-Alcaide then turned the gun on a witness who was trying to help the victim, court documents said.

Following the fatal shooting, the Franklin County Coroner’s Office was ordered to hold Angon Del Villar’s body for more than a month while Smith decided if he wanted a second autopsy.

Ajax at the time reportedly did not go along with the second autopsy request.

After Tuesday’s hearing, Ajax told the Herald she cannot discuss why she now needs an independent forensic pathologist to review the findings.

Ajax recently announced that her defense strategy will be “defense of others,” meaning Flores-Alcaide believed his nephew was in danger and he was protecting him.

Smith has said he will argue denial and self-defense for Alcaide.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 8:52 PM with the headline "Trial in Pasco nightclub homicide delayed 2 months."