Judge: Additional investigation and psychological report still pending in fatal hit-and-run case

ORANJESTAD – The judge presiding over the fatal hit-and-run criminal case against C. Fernandez Pedra said in court on Friday that several documents and additional investigative steps are still pending before the proceedings can move forward.

During the hearing, the judge stated that several new documents have been added to the case file. These include decisions by the Court of Appeal, documents relating to witness statements, and a ruling concerning Article 57 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

According to the judge, the court has also received a decision from the competent authorities in Aruba, as well as a letter submitted Friday morning by attorney Moszkowicz.

The judge explained that he recently took over the case after a colleague transferred the file. After reviewing the documentation, he concluded that several issues still require further clarification.

According to the judge, additional documentation has been incorporated into the case file, and consultations are ongoing with authorities in the Netherlands to determine whether it is technically possible to examine the vehicle's electronic system, or "hard drive." The judge noted that this technical examination was one of the issues he had specifically requested to be clarified.

In addition, the court is still awaiting the psychologist's report, which could also become an important part of the case file.

The criminal proceedings against Fernandez Pedra remain pending while the additional investigations and documentation are being completed.

In response to a question from the judge, the prosecutor confirmed that a request has been made to examine the vehicle's hard drive in order to retrieve important data, such as the speed at which the vehicle was traveling, whether the brakes were applied, and other relevant technical information. However, the prosecutor said it is not yet possible to estimate how long that investigation will take.

The judge indicated that by August 20, the court wants an update on the status of the investigation. The case is then scheduled to return to court on October 2, when it is expected to be heard in full.