The remaining days seem insufficient for both stages to conclude by Friday, February 13th, as stipulated by the Court, so it is not ruled out that the hearing may extend into next week. Lawyer Carlos Carrillo considers it “complicated” to meet the schedule set by Judge Baloisa Marínez, due to the non-appearance of several key witnesses. Furthermore, upon starting the final phase of the process—scheduled for Wednesday—the prosecution will have up to 20 hours for arguments, while the defense lawyers will have one hour each, which could exceed the established workday. Carrillo explained that to close on Friday as planned, the defense would need to conclude the presentation of witnesses and allow the prosecution to intervene, whose presentation would extend until Thursday. The extraction of expert and testimonial evidence in the Odebrecht trial in Panama should conclude this week to make way for final arguments. Subsequently, it would be the turn of the defenders to close the hearing. The jurist emphasized that his legal team will respect the times set by the judicial authorities, without renouncing procedural rights. Likewise, he reiterated that the debate surrounding his client, former President Ricardo Martinelli, centers on political donations made during the 2009 campaign, which, according to the defense, do not constitute a crime and should lead to a declaration of innocence. Meanwhile, lawyer Guillermina McDonald stated that the non-appearance of witnesses from the accuser's side, crucial to sustaining the alleged money laundering, places the prosecution in a disadvantageous position in the final phase of the process.
