https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Once-again-judge-dismisses-murder-charges-in-12991507.php
Once again, judge dismisses murder charges in Rensselaer County killings
State Supreme Court Justice Andrew Ceresia rules not enough evidence to support charges against at least two men implicated in killings of Troy men
Updated 2:55 pm, Wednesday, June 13, 2018
TROY — For the second time, a judge has thrown out murder charges against two men accused of killing two Troy roommates.
In a ruling that drops first- and second-degree murder charges against Cresencio "Chucho" Salazar, 27, and Luis Alfredo Monge Guevara, 21, state Supreme Court Justice Andrew Ceresia said there is no evidence to corroborate statements by others in the case that implicated the two men.
Another man, Magdaleno Perez Calixto, 29, previously pleaded guilty to robbery and agreed to cooperate with Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove's office.
Ceresia also ruled that prosecutors in the case failed to properly instruct the grand jury before they indicted the two men in December.
Tuesday's ruling marks the second time Ceresia dismissed indictments against the two men, who were among those indicted in the killing of Cristian Hernandez, 24, in Brunswick on Oct. 16, 2016, and Javier Gomez, 23, on Oct. 17, 2016, in an East Glen Avenue apartment. The victims shared the apartment in Troy's North Central neighborhood.
In September, Ceresia rejected the first indictment against Salazar, Guevara and a third man, Salomon Najera-Hernandez, 22.
Najera-Hernandez also was charged in the second indictment. He has also appealed and awaits the judge's decision.
Ceresia dismissed the initial indictments in the case in September.
