The Vheadline article mentions William Saud. In this Oct 13 article it looks as if he has some connection to Carlos Chancellor who is the ex mayor of Sifontes and has been in jail for quite sometime. He is anti-Crystallex.

Rule of law is absent in the case Chancellor
Monday, October 13, 2008
Counsel defender Carlos Chancellor, Alicia Hernandez Rendon, charged that the former councilman was being violated the right to life, due process and defense.

Clavel A: Rangel
Photo Luis Vallenilla



"This is not justice that must prevail in Venezuela," said Alicia Hernandez's case pica Chancellor Carlos and extends, according to the attorney Alicia Hernandez, a supporter of former mayor and now candidate for the municipality Sifontes. Hernandez made allegations pointing to the regional judiciary as responsible for the continuing abuses of the rights of his client.

Although William Saud, one of the miners complained, introduced part of the problem in the case last Saturday, the defense counsel in the case wanted to deepen what he considers a setback for the rule of law that has been claimed in the revolution.

Hernandez pointed out that mainly is curtailed the right to life of Charles Chancellor, who according to several medical reports had a serious state of health suffering from a hernia that must be readily operated by bleeding it presents. He reported that last Friday, the day when the preliminary hearing was being held, the judge ignored the reports and proceeded to start the trial even if Chancellor was not at all his powers.

It also indicated that the defender is constantly tramples the rights of defense since she has had restricted access to the file that has more than 8 billion pages, which you need to know quickly to ascertain the cause and come to the defense.

According to Hernandez, one of the other rights is impeded the right to be tried in freedom under the presumption of innocence. He recalled that Chancellor Carlos has one year in custody without trial has started, three years ago that started the case.

Defense outraged
Alicia Hernandez said that he felt outraged to see that justice is still being handled in Venezuela after 10 years. "It becomes so because of ignorance, incompetence or fear, but of the causes is that this is an outrage," said the lawyer.

Increpó the judge: "What is fear?, What we are talking about victims, miners or Crystallex executives who travel comfortably until the hearing?" Asked Hernandez.

William Saud, who also accompanied the lawyer in his claims, was that he, along with seven other miners, have to travel every 15 days to be submitted to the court nearest is at Tumeremo. The presentation will entail a cost of more than 300 strong bolivars to each miner, which must traverse 200 kilometers from Las Claritas violating their right to work, because many times the hearings have been canceled.

On Monday both the lawyer as the mining carried out the act of disqualification against the judge handling the case.

Preliminary trial

On Oct. 10 held a preliminary hearing of the case commented Chancellor and the miners. The political leader is accused of criminal offenses and environmental concerns, said his defender closed. Hernandez said that before starting the hearing submitted medical reports, as the hearing was extended to his trial.

However, according to Hernandez gave the judge as not to place the request. "I saw on the duty to waive the defense because it would not accept those conditions, but the allegation of the judge quickly called for an urgent public defender Chancellor. I wonder why nothing is done quickly with so many detainees who have not been prosecuted, "said the lawyer.

He charged that his client spent more than 12 hours in the hearing and had to be handled by the emergency 1-7-1 within the same audience as having high blood pressure. "One can cause high blood pressure or a stroke and even death," said Hernandez. He reported on Saturday that Chancellor Carlos had to be operated by a strangulated hernia that was not on time.