by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Attorney General's Office wants to assure the public that they are doing everything they can to prepare for the upcoming trial of Chad DeSoto.

Chief deputy AG Phil Tydingco recently mentioned that the Attorney General's Office didn't have enough funding to bring the estimated 20 witnesses back for the Tumon tragedy trial.

Tydingco clarifies that statement and says the office is working with the Guam Visitors Bureau, the FBI and the Japan Consulate Office.

"We're gonna be pilling all our resources and we're committed to prosecute this case whatever it takes to bring those witnesses back and we also have on island witnesses. But again the ideal is if there are twenty potential, then we should be able to bring back the twenty potential. Do we need all twenty potential? According to the lead prosecutor at this time, no," he said.

Tydingco says it is anticipated that some witnesses may still be too traumatized to return back to Guam and others may be sick or unavailable.

He says the office is prepared to take the case to trial.

"They filed a motion saying they want to close off the hearing to discuss how many witnesses and I'm not sure that we're going to agree with that position because I'm not sure why they should close that off about talking about the number of witnesses that should be open," Tydingco added. "We're ready to go for the April 7 trial."

DeSoto is being held behind bars for the deaths of three tourists and injuring eleven others during a rampage in Tumon.

The defense pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness and the court subsequently ordered two psychiatric evaluations but the results have been filed under seal and are under review by the parties.

A date has not been set for the defense's latest motion regarding a closed hearing to discuss the number of witnesses for the trial.