Colombian judge: John Poulos to stay in pre-trial detention for alleged killing of girlfriend Valentina Trespalacios
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Wisconsin man accused of killing his Colombian girlfriend will have to face trial behind bars following a judge's ruling late Thursday, Feb. 2.
The decision came after two day-long hearings where prosecutors and attorneys for the victim's family and the accused presented their cases.
Prosecutors shared a timeline of events before and after the suspected killing. Security camera footage allegedly shows Poulos arriving in the capital city of Bogota on Jan. 19 with a blue suitcase, then meeting Trespalacios on Jan. 20.
The two are shown on security video entering an apartment in the northern part of the city. Jan. 21 is the last time Trespalacios is seen alive entering the apartment. On Jan. 22, Poulos is seen rolling a blue suitcase out of the apartment. Police allege the suitcase contained the body of Trespalacios. Surveillance video also shows a man police say is Poulos putting the suitcase in a trunk. Prosecutors say Poulos then disposed of the suitcase with the body in a dumpster in another part of the city. A homeless man discovered the suitcase with the body of Trespalacios later that day.
Prosecutors then detailed how Poulos allegedly tried to flee by boarding a flight to Panama, then attempting to fly from Panama to Istanbul, Turkey, with an alleged final destination of Montenegro, which the Trespalacios family attorney said does not have an extradition agreement with Colombia.
Poulos was arrested by Panamanian authorities on Jan. 24 and placed in Colombian custody on Jan. 26.
After sharing the allegations, prosecutors and the attorney for the victim's family said Poulos was a flight risk and a danger to the community and therefore should be sent to pre-trial detention in a Colombian facility.
Poulos' attorney defended his client Thursday at a hearing. The attorney said Poulos had nothing to do with the alleged killing and had intended to start a new life in Colombia with Trespalacios. The attorney also noted Poulos feared for his safety as the case has sparked outrage in Colombia.
Poulos' original attorney had quit the case earlier in the week due to threats.
"This court has found that two of the three principles apply, which is the danger to the community and also the risk of flight," a court interpreter said on behalf of the judge Thursday night.
On Thursday night, the judge agreed Poulos was a flight risk and a threat to the community and therefore should be in jail while he waits for trial. Poulos has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
"To impose this measure will allow for Mr. [Poulos] to not exit the country and will also protect the Colombian women," the interpreter said on behalf of the judge.
Poulos is charged with femicide and attempting to conceal evidence. The Franklin native faces upwards of 40 years in Colombian prison if convicted.