A murder trial in the death of Stevy Villanueva has been rescheduled after originally being set for this month. Manny Sablan Murciano Jr., the accused, appeared in the Superior Court of Guam for a hearing related to the suspected murder. Villanueva’s torso was found abandoned off Route 10 in Chalan Pago in January. Murciano is facing a first-degree murder charge for allegedly shooting Villanueva, dismembering the victim’s body, and disposing of the remains.
During the hearing before Judge Maria Cenzon, both the prosecution and defense attorneys requested a change in the trial date. Prosecutor Basil O’Mallan stated that plea negotiations were ongoing, and a “valid” offer had just been sent to Murciano’s defense counsel. O’Mallan mentioned that the offer would require substantial time for discussion. Murciano’s attorney, Charles McDonald, agreed and also mentioned that he was waiting for evidence to be turned over to him.
As a result, Judge Cenzon found good cause to vacate the trial date and stated that a new trial date would be determined later. In a separate case related to the murder, Robert Revels, who was accused of being involved in disposing of Villanueva’s body and evidence, appeared in court earlier this month. Revels’ attorney, Sam Teker, stated that his client had cooperated with the government but was still waiting for a formal plea offer. The trial date for Revels was also vacated to allow for further discussions on the plea.
