After being held for over two years in a Mexican prison, Canadian Brenda Martin could have a verdict in her case by the end of this week.
A final hearing in her case will be heard Monday, and the judge has reportedly said he will try to issue a ruling by April 18 if possible.
It is expected Martin will appear in person before the judge tomorrow.
Martin has been held in custody since February 2006. She has been accused of knowingly accepting illicit funds from an Internet fraud scheme operated by Alyn Waage. Martin had been his chef until she was fired.
Waage, in prison in the U.S., has issued an affidavit in support of Martin, who has long professed her innocence.
If found guilty, Martin faces a prison sentence of at least five years.
Marco Pelaez, a Guadalajara lawyer, explained to CTV.ca that the final hearing is normally little more than a ceremonial function in the Mexican legal system, where the judge calls an end to evidence being considered.
Normally, a judge will deliver a ruling within 15 to 30 days from the final hearing but Pelaez said because of the local and international attention on this case there might be special circumstances.
The prosecution has reportedly handed in thousands of pages of documents but Martin's defence lawyers have said that there is no direct evidence against their client.
Pelaez said that Martin's length of time in prison waiting for a verdict was not abnormal for federal cases in Mexico.
"I've been practicing law for nine years and two years is not that unusual, unfortunately," he said.
He said there are two problems responsible for the long wait times -not enough judges and a lack of an effective system to track people awaiting trial.
Martin, not being a Mexican citizen, was considered a flight risk and charged under Federal law, to keep her in prison.
"It's a good system, but it needs about 400 more judges," he said.
According to the , in the Mexican legal system, there are no oral arguments by lawyers or live witnesses testifying. Lawyers hand in evidence in the form of written arguments and witness statements are handed to the judge in written statement.
Also, in Mexico, the onus is on the defence to prove their client's innocence.
Martin's health failing
Martin has complained of deteriorating mental and physical health as a result of her incarceration. Some of her supporters have expressed fear for her life.
The 51-year-old, originally from Trenton, Ont., has also been critical of Canadian government efforts to help her.
A report detailing government efforts to help Martin was leaked last month. Martin didn't contest most of the report's contents, but said the leak violated her privacy.
The federal privacy commissioner has promised to investigate the matter.
