Case Against Mexican Judge Who Freed Murder Suspects Grows

Prosecutors in the Mexican capital say they have bolstered a case of judicial misconduct against a judge who freed the confessed killers of a U.S. businessman after calling the gang ringleader “a modern Robin Hood.”

A new arrest order was issued against the freed suspects, Samuel de Villar, the Mexico City attorney general, said late Saturday.

In addition, prosecutors have said that the judge was on vacation when she signed the release order for five suspects but went to court late one night to let them go.

Peter Zarate, 40, a real estate broker for a New York firm, was shot and killed Dec. 15 when he was held up in a taxi.

The case has drawn protest from the U.S. State Department and Mexico City prosecutors, who are outraged that Judge Maria Claudia Campuzano freed a confessed criminal and his gang.

Controversy has swirled over Campuzano calling the ringleader “a modern Robin Hood.”

The judge said her comment was taken out of context, and that police beat the confessions out of the suspects. She also said prosecutors presented a case full of holes and contradictions.

But De Villar said the judge acted with “absolute arbitrariness” in signing the release order.

Prosecutors also produced documents showing Campuzano would have been on holiday at that time.