Two men charged in a 2023 Green Bay homicide will not be tried together, as they had wanted.
FOX11 reports that 41-year-old Christian Rivera-Pica and 40-year-old Joel Pagan-Garcia were back in Brown County court yesterday for a joint hearing.
They both face 1st-degree intentional homicide charges in the death of 30-year-old Carlos Otero-Aviles.
Brown County Assistant District Attorney Bryant Dorsey explained that he is concerned about a joint trial creating issues that could lead to a successful appeal.
He also said prosecutors would call Pagan-Garcia to testify against Rivera-Pica and would offer immunity at trial to make sure it happens.
Defense Attorney Heather Richmond said she wanted to keep the 40 and 41-year-olds together, but Judge Tammy Jo Hock decided to “deny the request for joinder of the two cases.”
No new date was set in Rivera-Pica’s case, but Pagan-Garcia is set to return to court on December 4th for a motion hearing.
The 2023 homicide took place in the 1700 block of Western Avenue at an apartment complex during a child’s birthday party.
Otero-Aviles was the only victim, and no one else was injured.
