Hermosillo, Sonora – The stench of impunity hangs heavy over the Waldo’s fire. A judge, seemingly more concerned with procedural technicalities than with the lives lost, has released five of the individuals implicated in the tragedy that claimed 24 lives and injured 15 more. It’s a slap in the face to the victims, a betrayal of the pursuit of justice, and a chilling demonstration of how easily the system can be manipulated.

The fire, which ripped through the Waldo’s store on November 1st, wasn’t an accident. It was a consequence of negligence, of a blatant disregard for safety regulations, and now, it appears, a consequence of a compromised judicial process. Twenty-five arrest warrants were issued, yet the wheels of justice are turning at a glacial pace, and now, even *backwards*.

Ricardo Ballesteros López, attorney for four of the victims, rightfully condemns the judge’s decision as “partial” and “a grave injustice.” He points out the blatant disregard for the prosecution’s objections, and the legal principles of continuity in criminal proceedings. The judge, in a move that reeks of predetermination, suspended the hearing, allowing the accused to walk free.

“They violated their rights,” Ballesteros stated, his voice laced with frustration. “One of the core principles of oral proceedings is continuity. He shouldn’t have suspended that hearing.”

The audacity of the defense, requesting a postponement until January 2026 while simultaneously demanding their clients’ release, is staggering. And the judge, instead of upholding the law, accommodated them. The prosecution had 72 hours to build a case for detention, a window of opportunity the judge deliberately closed.

“The detainees could have requested an extension of the constitutional term… and it would have been another 72 hours. They had enough time to impose, if there was an order of connection to the process, which, in my opinion, the judge should have done, because there is very evident evidence,” Ballesteros emphasized.

A Flight Risk?

Now, the very real fear is that these individuals will simply disappear. Will they appear for the next hearing on January 13th? Ballesteros doubts it. “Who can guarantee that they will show up? Who can guarantee they won’t flee?” he asks, a rhetorical question that hangs in the air like the smoke from the burned store.

Ballesteros is rightly considering a complaint to the Judicial Disciplinary Tribunal, questioning the judge’s conduct. While acknowledging the judge’s competence, he believes the decision to suspend proceedings and release the detainees was a profound error, a dereliction of duty.

“I consider him a competent judge because he knew how to handle the process, but the decision he made to suspend the criminal process in the incidental hearing, to release the detainees, I think was a bad decision. I think he is not acting correctly,” he stated.

The charges against the 25 individuals range from manslaughter to negligence, and include accusations against company officials and personnel from Civil Protection. This isn’t just about a fire; it’s about systemic failures, about a culture of impunity, and about a justice system that too often protects the powerful at the expense of the vulnerable. The families of the victims, and the community of Hermosillo, deserve better. They deserve justice. And they deserve it now.

Reported by Silvia Rivas, Norte – Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. Powered by AI News Persona Architect.