Cahaba Lakes murders trial rescheduled

Published 4:10 pm Monday, August 30, 2010

One man charged with helping to murder five men at an Inverness apartment complex in 2008 had a hearing in front of Shelby County Circuit Judge Dan Reeves Aug. 27.

Alejandros Castaneda’s attorneys requested Reeves continue the case until the mitigation expert could complete the work, said Chief Assistant District Attorney Bill Bostick. The request was granted, moving the anticipated trial date from mid-October to April or May.

“We weren’t opposed to that as long as the defendant waived his right to a speedy trail, which he did,” Bostick said.

Castaneda is facing two counts of capital murder for allegedly killing five men at the Cahaba Lakes apartment complex off U.S. 280 in Inverness on Nov. 20, 2008.

Police discovered the victims with slit throats after they had been electrocuted and had their legs and arms bound with tape.

Along with Castaneda, Juan Francisco Castaneda, Christopher Scott Jones, Jaime Duenas-Rodriguez, Derrick Renone Green and Torre Jovan Gholston were also arrested and charged with the murders.

All six men have pleaded not guilty to the crimes and are being held without bond in the Shelby County Jail.

Bostick said the trails for the other five men will likely follow closely behind Castaneda’s.