Maybe next time a court date is scheduled in absentia, the defendant's attorney should be notified

Catherine Fode who pleaded to voluntary manslaughter in the Manila 5 homicide case had setting of her sentencing scheduled on January 21. It was rescheduled to February 19.



I was surprised to see it on calendar today.
Apparently, I was not the only one. The court scheduled it and even Fode's attorney was not aware of today's hearing and not in court this morning.

Last Friday, I was there for the pleas and knew her sentencing had not been scheduled. There has been a lot of these dates being changed after hearings or vacated.

Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer is the prosecutor for this case. Mr. Neal Sanders is Fode's attorney. Three other suspects entered pleas on January 17 and will be sentenced on February 13. The last suspect, Cesar Valenzuela is mulling the offer by the People.
Previous post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/01/manila-5-in-homicide-case-down-to.html?m=1