Drug kingpin's trial resumes Friday

Guam - After a delay of several weeks, the jury trial of Mateo Sardoma Junior, Maria Edrosa, and Rudy Sablan resumes tomorrow. The trial has been on hold for nearly a month as the defense filed motions for mistrial.  According to documents filed in the District Court, the defendants claim that the government acted inappropriately during witnesses' testimony by stating that a witness was credible.

They also allege that the government has continuously and systematically suppressed evidence and not provided notice of what some witnesses would testify to.  Sardoma, Sablan and Edrosa claim the damage cannot be undone and their right to a fair trial has been irreparably compromised by the government's actions.  The court heard arguments today and denied the motion for mistrial.

The government alleges Sardoma was "The Kingpin of Dope" on Guam and the three were part of a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of crystal methamphetamine on Guam for several years.

The trial resumes on Friday.