by Nick Delgado

Guam - Two men involved in the murder of Vincent Peredo in Yona last year were back in court today, but are a result of a conflict in the law their hearings were continued. Derrick Cruz was first up, scheduled to enter a guilty plea for murder. His plea agreement would have placed him behind bars for life with the chance of parole after 25 years, but Presiding Judge Alberto Lamorena said due to a conflict in the statute he asked Cruz if he instead wanted parole eligibility after 15 years.

"So you are willing to go the 25 years in spite of the conflict?" the judge asked, to which Cruz's attorney Stan Dirks responded, "Yes." His Honor then said, "You understand that Mr. Cruz there is a conflict in the statue where one says if you plea guilty to murder with life imprisonment you are eligible for parole after 15 years of sentence, and the other statue says if you are sentenced for murder for life imprisonment then you are eligible for parole after 25 years? You have a choice to take the 25 years are you willing to stay in jail for 25 years in order to be eligible for parole."

The judge continued the hearing until December 21 so Cruz can decide. Defendant Cal Jerome Delorie sentencing was also continued to January 3.

The pair is accused of beating, restraining and then leaving Peredo to die in his home last year. The defendants left the home with trash bags filled with marijuana.