Judge sets courtroom rules for families ahead of manslaughter trial

During a pretrial hearing Thursday for El Paso boxer Joel Garcia’s manslaughter trial, the judge set a list of rules, including a dress code for people planning on attending.

Garcia is accused of driving drunk on the early hours of Christmas Eve 2014 and killing three people. The trial is set to begin August 28.

On Thursday, Judge Gonzalo Garcia warned all families against disrupting, commenting or having outbursts in the courtroom. During a previous hearing, a family member of the victims was ordered to sit in the back of the courtroom or remain outside because, Garcia said, they had been making comments to the defendant during previous hearings.

Judge Garcia also said he will prohibit any clothing or T-shirts that may convey any messages of emotion to the jury. Judge Garcia said he will remove an entire family if anyone does not abide by the rules.

Police say Garcia was drunk and speeding when he smashed into a car, killing two brothers, 23-year-old Joshua Deal and 19-year-old Isaiah Deal and Joshua’s girlfriend Shannon Del Rio, 22.

Last week, Judge Garcia indicated that in addition to three counts of manslaughter, the 24-year-old Garcia was also charged with possession of cocaine.

Garcia faced family members of his three alleged victims as he came into the courtroom. First, Judge Garcia reiterated the previous week’s rulings to not allow a blood sample to be admitted as evidence since it was obtained without a warrant. Judge Garcia also threw out part of Garcia’s confession, in which he allegedly admitted having five beers and two shots prior to the wreck, because he was read his Miranda rights after he gave it to police. Garcia told office

Judge Garcia then brought up the cocaine charge.

When he asked where it was found, the state’s attorney indicated “it was found in his wallet by a booking cashier while counting his money as he was being booked.”

Grace Talamantes, whose daughter was killed by a DWI driver in 2007 was also at the last week;s hearing. She told ABC-7 she’s providing support for the families of the victims.

“It’s frustrating just to hear (evidence being thrown out),” Talamantes said. “(The families) are not happy and I don’t blame them. I mean we need all this information to be able to help their case.”