'El Chapo's' lawyers face tough choices at end of state case
Guzman, 61, the alleged leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, was extradited to the US in 2017
New York — With federal prosecutors expected to rest their case against Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman on Monday, lawyers for the accused Mexican drug kingpin have given few clues about how they plan to counter three months of testimony by more than 50 government witnesses. Among the tough choices they face are whether to call their own witnesses to try to undermine the prosecutors’ evidence, and whether Guzman should take the stand in his own defence. One of his attorneys said on Friday that they would not reveal the names of any witnesses unless they decided to call them. “Similarly, we will not disclose Joaquin’s plans about testifying until the time comes to inform the court,” Guzman lawyer Eduardo Balarezo said. Guzman, 61, the alleged leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, was extradited to the US in 2017. He has been on trial since November on charges of trafficking vast quantities of cocaine, heroin and other illegal drugs into the country. Prosecutors have called more than a dozen f...
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