Travel ban delays trial for defendants accused of killing Yap acting attorney general

Two defendants accused of gunning down Rachelle Bergeron-Hammerling in Yap nearly a year ago are set to address the criminal complaint against them in the Yap State Supreme Court. The defendants face a total of 19 counts ranging from murder and manslaughter to

firearms possession, according to a release on behalf of Constantine Yowbalaw, Director of the Yap State Dept. of Youth & Civic Affairs.

Bergeron-Hammerling was the acting attorney general last October when she was murdered.

The case in the FSM National Supreme Court has been stalled since a travel ban was issued in the FSM due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ban barred the defense, prosecuting attorneys and judge, who are based in Pohnpei and Chuuk, from traveling to Yap for the trial. The ban has since been extended until the end of September.

Last December, hearings for pretrial motions were held for the firearms and ammunition charges the FSM court but further hearings were canceled because evidential reports hadn't arrived from the United States.

On Sept. 3, the judge and attorneys met in a Zoom call and agreed they would proceed with hearings using the teleconferencing app. The defendants will sit in the FSM Supreme Court courtroom in Yap. Those hearings are open to the public. Dates have not yet been set for those hearings.

The judge and attorneys in the Yap State Supreme Court case plan to travel to Yap in the event the ban is lifted.