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[News X] Biagini trial chaos: District Attorney Melanie Cromwell and Cyril Regas arrested after being held in contempt of court 


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A handcuffed District Attorney Melanie Cromwell is lead into the vehicle of her arresting deputy 

 

Biagini trial chaos: District Attorney Melanie Cromwell and Cyril Regas arrested after being held in contempt of court 

The trial of Vincenzo Biagini, the LSPD officer charged with manslaughter following the shooting of garbage truck driver Tony Peres, takes an unexpected turn as Justice Clarence Marshall holds both the District Attorney and the defendant’s legal representative Cyril Regas in contempt

By PHOEBE HOLTER

 

LOS SANTOS - “This is going down in the history books at least”, Cyril Regas remarked as he stood handcuffed in one of the hearing rooms of the Greg E. Joplin Courthouse. In a move that shocked those at the hearing, Justice Clarence Marshall had just held both him and District Attorney Melanie Cromwell in contempt of court, following a dispute over the timing of the case’s verdict and closing statements. 

 

Originally scheduled as a witness examination, the hearing went largely without issue until the cross examination of the defendant (LSPD Officer Vincenzo Biagini) came to an end. Justice Marshall at that point signalled that he wished to draw the case to a close, stating he believed the court was “ready to move forward to deliberating a judgement”. This was immediately rebuffed by Regas, who protested the lack of closing statements. Despite these protests, Justice Marshall reinforced his position, expressing that he felt the closing statements had already been provided.

 

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Cyril Regas, already handcuffed by this point stands across from Melanie Cromwell, as both are arrested

 

“The second statements you gave were your closing statements and I was clear in that. But I will give you an opportunity to give brief closing statements here of course.” - Justice Clarence Marshall 

 

District Attorney Cromwell also signalled her disagreement with Marshall’s decision, expressing that she believed that either skipping or rushing the closing statements jeopardized not only the right to a free trial for Biagni, but also the prosecution. She commented: “this is an unprecedented decision that will violate the right to a fair trial of both sides.”

 

Proceedings took a turn for the worse when Regas took to protesting Justice Marshall’s decision to allow a brief closing statement, a compromise made in place of just moving straight to a verdict. “Congratulations counselor, I will be holding you in contempt, ” Justice Marshall remarked, after disagreeing with Regas’ understanding of case procedure. “I have given you warning after warning”.  

 

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D.A. Cromwell outside of the courthouse

 

It was at this point that District Attorney Cromwell felt she had to “step in for Mister Regas”, backing his claims the trial was not fair. This move saw the District Attorney also be held in contempt, as Marshall abruptly adjourned the hearing and signalled that he would “[forward] complaints to the Bar Association”. “This is unacceptable”, he stated. “The Judiciary dictates the flow of this trial.”

 

 

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D.A Cromwell in a Sherriff's Department vehicle

 

“Your Honor, this is not a fair trial. I do want the defendant to be found guilty, but because the Court actually came to that conclusion. Not by denying the defendant a right to a fair trial.” - D.A. Cromwell addresses Justice Marshall

 

It was shortly after this point where handcuffs were applied as both counsels for the prosecution and the defence were escorted out of the building by LSSD deputies. According to Cyril Regas, who spoke to News X later that evening, an emergency intervention motion by a higher judge halted the arrests, though this was sometime after both had been escorted away from the courthouse. 

 

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Cyril Regas as he is escorted out of the hearing room

 

The sight of the District Attorney in handcuffs leaving the Greg E. Joplin Courthouse is not a daily occurrence. But it is both just another turn in an already contentious case and in the career of a District Attorney who’s not afraid of making bold statements. From the partial decriminalization of marijuana, to her public political statements made on Facebrowser. Cromwell is no stranger to controversy, as a recent online poll calling for her resignation shows.

 

 

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Cyril Regas, being escorted in a LSSD vehicle

 

“Free Biagini, he was just taking the trash out.” - Cyril Regas, after being asked for comment while being frisked during his arrest

 

As for Biagini, things are much more uncertain and his case remains in the air. The LSPD officer was charged with manslaughter after having shot garbage truck driver Tony Perez who it is claimed was imminently about to hit his colleagues (this claim is disputed by the prosecution). “I'm calling for a mistrial here, the rights of Biagini were dragged through the mud,” Regas commented while giving a statement to News X after his arrest was halted. 

 

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District Attorney Melanie Cromwell escorted out of the coutroom  (( Handcuffs were applied, but animation was bugged I think ))

 

This story will be updated as more information arises. 

 

About the journalist

 

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14 minutes ago, stringer said:

Username: Rich

Comment: Bingini did nothing wrong, #freebingini!

 

Username: TheRealCarrySaunders

Comment: Unironically while Cyril and Judge Marshall allegedly hold each other (or the court? 🤭) in contempt they do agree on this matter, it slipped public attention but there was a verdict in the case after all (Not guilty)

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