Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

WILKES-BARRE — A brief pretrial conference paved the way to a jury trial for a man facing a homicide charge.

Rafael Mora-Polanco, 27, appeared before Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough for a pretrial conference Thursday. Polanco’s attorney Frank McCabe and prosecutor Justin Paul Richards said the court proceeding was procedural in nature to discuss discovery elements of the case heading into trial.

Polanco faces an open count of criminal homicide for the fatal shooting of Jorge Marrero, 35, outside an Alter Street apartment on June 11. Marrero was shot six times with a .380-caliber handgun and died at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton about 30 minutes after he was shot.

Mora-Polanco’s siblings also face charges of witness intimidation in relation to the case. Denny Polanco and Hilda Mora-Polanco are accused of making attempts to dissuade potential witnesses from testifying against their brother. A third person, Ramon Cruz-Maldonado, is also charged with intimidation for brandishing a shotgun at a witness.

Rafael Mora-Polanco is scheduled to stand trial in February.

Rafael Mora-Polanco is led into the Luzerne County Courthouse for a pretrail hearing. 12/3/2015 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL120415Polanco1.jpg.optimal.jpgRafael Mora-Polanco is led into the Luzerne County Courthouse for a pretrail hearing. 12/3/2015 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader
Rafael Mora-Polanco faces charges in death of Jorge Marrero

By Travis Kellar

[email protected]

Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews