Physician in Camarena Case Pleads Not Guilty
A Mexican physician arrested in the torture-slaying of U.S. drug agent Enrique Camarena pleaded not guilty to murder charges Tuesday and told a judge in Los Angeles, “I want to prove I am a good man” at trial.
U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie ordered Humberto Alvarez-Machain, 42, a gynecologist from Guadalajara, held without bail. Alvarez was arrested last week in El Paso after he was taken there by Mexican law enforcement officials.
Alvarez will stand trial May 1 along with four other men in custody in connection with Camarena’s murder.
In arguing against bail, Assistant U.S. Atty. Manuel Medrano said that Alvarez was present when Camarena was tortured, and administered a drug to revive the agent when he passed out while being interrogated by his captors.
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