At noon on Wednesday, the criminal trial initiated by the Public Prosecution Service against Ms. Chania Chante Fernandes Pedra was scheduled to take place regarding the tragic accident on January 4, 2025, in which Chania, driving a Jeep, struck and killed Ms. Josely Paulina Vasquez (65) and Mr. Carlos David Vialez Valerio (54) before fleeing the scene.
It was understood that the Judge heard part of the case before proceedings had to be halted due to a complaint letter filed by Chania against the Judge.
The Jeep Struck the Victims and Fled
The Judge decided to proceed with the trial after Chania had repeatedly been given the opportunity to obtain government-funded legal counsel, but each time failed to secure representation for one reason or another.
The Judge stated that according to the police report, on the evening of January 4, 2025, police received a report of a hit-and-run accident. Officers responded to the area near Lucy’s restaurant, where two individuals were found lying on the road without signs of life. Witnesses informed police that a group of four people was crossing the main road near Lucy’s restaurant when a Jeep was seen approaching at high speed, unable to avoid the collision.
The Jeep struck a woman, prompting screams from another person. The Jeep stopped briefly at a distance before speeding away. The female victim lost consciousness, suffered the amputation of a part of her leg, and showed no signs of life. A man was also struck by the Jeep and was lifeless. Police had to search for the woman’s leg a considerable distance away. Similarly, a part of the man’s body, torn off by the sheer force of the impact, was found at a distance.
The Judge further noted that police launched an investigation and, using security camera footage, established that the Jeep was traveling at an extremely high speed. They successfully tracked the license plate and identified the owner of the Jeep.
Defendant Under the Influence of Alcohol
Police went to Chania’s father’s home and observed that the Jeep’s headlights were on and the engine was warm. The defendant, Chania, was present and highly emotional.
Police administered an alcohol breath test to Chania, registering 295 microgrammes of alcohol in her system, indicating she was under the influence of alcohol.
The Impact Threw the Victims a Great Distance
Technical accident reconstruction at the scene showed that the collision was extremely violent. Due to the severe impact, the female victim was thrown 22 meters away, while the male victim landed 81 meters away from the point of impact.
Accident Videos Shown in Court
The Judge announced that he would display footage of the accident and advised victims’ family members who did not wish to watch to step out of the courtroom and return afterward. Some family members left in tears. The Judge stated that police had retrieved footage from numerous security cameras showing how the accident occurred. The footage displayed the incredible speed at which the Jeep was traveling along the Boulevard toward the Renaissance Hotel bridge.
It was horrifying to witness how far the victims were thrown upon impact. Afterward, the footage showed the Jeep stopping briefly at a distance before speeding away.
Case Postponed
While the Judge was playing the impact footage, a court clerk approached the Judge and handed him an incoming email. The email revealed that Chania had filed a complaint against the Judge, forcing proceedings to halt immediately. The Judge adjourned the case briefly to determine the next steps. Upon returning, he informed Chania that on Friday, November 6, 2026, a panel of three judges will address the complaint, and postponed the trial continuation to November 18, 2026.
Tomorrow morning, the three judges will review the case to decide whether Chania’s complaint has merit and whether the current Judge will continue presiding over the trial or if another Judge should take over.
