Oh boy, here we go. So, Cain Velasquez, that beast of a former UFC heavyweight champ, has got a trial date now. It’s set for September 9. Yeah, you heard that right.
Judge Elizabeth C. Peterson was the one who dropped the date. This all went down in a Santa Clara County court in sunny California. Cain was there, listening in as his future was being debated. Heavy stuff, right?
And get this, the charges? They’re no small deal. We’re talking attempted murder among others. Imagine that.
Cain’s lawyer, Renee Hessling, was pushing for more time. Said something about needing more evidence for the defense. But the prosecutor, Aaron French, wasn’t having any of it. So, the judge was like, “September it is.”
They’ve also got a bunch of other dates lined up. Like, there’s this trial readiness hearing on June 26. And then, all the motions have to be in by August 12, wrapped up by the 26th. Plus, they’ve gotta have their witness lists ready by September 4. It’s like planning a wedding, but with less cake and more legal briefs.
Now, here’s where it gets real spicy. Cain’s in hot water for allegedly chasing down and shooting at Harry Goularte. This Goularte guy is accused of molesting Cain’s son. During this high-speed chase, Cain supposedly shot at the car, hitting Goularte’s stepdad, Paul Bender. Cain’s pleaded not guilty, but if the court doesn’t buy it, he could be looking at 20 years to life.
After chilling in a holding cell for eight months, Cain posted a $1 million bail last November. Now, he’s got a GPS tracker and needs the court’s say-so to leave his house. Despite all this, he’s been out there, supporting his teammates at UFC and Bellator events and even hitting up some pro wrestling gigs.
As for Goularte, he’s also out on bail, facing his own nightmare – a felony charge for lewd acts with a child. His day in court’s coming up in July.
Man, what a mess. Makes you think, doesn’t it? Life’s wild, unpredictable, and sometimes, just plain tragic.