Julián Oro Duro: reporting without prejudgment
Two official statements raise an important question: how can an active investigation be reported while respecting the presumption of innocence?
What official sources report
On 23 September 2026, the National Police reported that three people were in custody and a fourth was being sought in an investigation into the death of Zeneida Socorro Castillo and the injuries suffered by artist Gilberto Julián Sarante Perdomo, known as Julián Oro Duro. The statement said the investigation was continuing with the Public Prosecutor's Office.
On 25 September, the Police published an update reporting four arrests and the recovery of money and other belongings. These are facts reported by the investigating authority; by themselves, they do not establish criminal responsibility.
Editorial review: 11 October 2026. Diario Libre reported on 1 October that the Permanent Attention Office of Santo Domingo Este ordered 18 months of pretrial detention for four defendants and declared the proceedings complex. This is attributed news reporting, not a court ruling reviewed directly. We do not verify subsequent procedural developments here. A coercive measure is not a conviction.
The transparency perspective
In a matter of significant public interest, reporting investigative steps, arrests, and recovered property can help explain what the state is doing and support accountability. The public need not be left in the dark while an investigation is under way.
Precision is part of transparency: attribute each claim to its source, date updates, identify preliminary information as such, and correct it if the information changes.
The safeguards perspective
The Dominican Code of Criminal Procedure, enacted by Law 97-25, recognizes in Article 14 that everyone is presumed innocent until an irrevocable judgment establishes responsibility. Paragraph I also states that, before such a declaration, authorities must not present a person as guilty.
From this perspective, a police statement is an official source for what the Police report and for the course of their investigation; it does not replace evidence tested in court or a judicial decision. Public coverage should not turn suspicion or an arrest into a conclusion.
Where the disagreement lies
The tension does not require choosing between reporting and respecting rights. The question is what level of detail serves the public interest and how it is framed: which developments should be shared while protecting the investigation? How can repeated allegations be prevented from becoming a social conviction? What update and correction practices are needed?
The question that remains
How can authorities and the media provide useful information about a matter of public interest without anticipating the decision that belongs to the courts?
Sources consulted
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Judiciary: Law 97-25, Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 14.
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Diario Libre: 1 October 2026 reporting on the coercive measure.
Editorial and informational analysis. It does not determine guilt, replace a court decision, or constitute legal advice. Available information may change as the proceedings develop.
SAM & HERNÁNDEZ CONSULTORES JURÍDICOS SRL. The content published on this site is for information only and does not constitute legal advice.
