A hearing in the trial of former UFC heavyweight champion Kane Vasquez was held yesterday (Friday) in the Santa Clara County Courthouse in San Jose, California.
After the former heavyweight fighter filed an appeal against his release on bail.
Vasquez was arrested in late February after allegedly chasing and firing a gun at a car with three people inside, including Harry Goularte, a man accused of sexually assaulting the UFC champion's 4-year-old son.
Gularte, who was released on bail after being arrested for "lewd acts with a minor under the age of 14", was not injured in the incident.
However, Goularte's stepfather, Paul Bender, was hit in the shoulder by a bullet allegedly fired by Vasalquez.
Yesterday's hearing was held behind closed doors with the participation of her lawyers and representatives of the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, who continued to debate the relevance of documents related to Golarte's arrest, including interviews with the minor regarding alleged sexual abuse by the alleged assailant.
Attorney Aaron French argued that only part of Golarta's investigation should be included in Vasalquez's trial because it is an ongoing investigation and involves the young man's integrity and privacy.
In addition, Vaslakez's defense attorneys, Alexandra Kazarian and Renee Hessling, objected to the prosecutor's plan not to put Goularte on the witness stand.
"Harry Golarte is fundamental and essential to what he saw and how this investigation against Mr. Vasalkaz unfolded," Hessling said, adding that "to say he should just be completely removed from this equation, pretend he doesn't exist and just completely eliminate his presence or the kind of role he has in this , I think it's fiction. I don't think it's practical. I think it's fundamentally unfair to Mr. Vasalkaz
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