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Post by CRASHER on Nov 8, 2005 13:56:11 GMT -5
Urbina arrested for attempted murder Associated Press 11/8/2005 11:06:23 AM CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ugueth Urbina has been arrested on a charge of attempted murder, police said Tuesday. Last month, Urbina and a group of men allegedly wielded machetes at several employees at his family's ranch and poured gasoline on them in an attempt to set them on fire. Five workers were injured, and one of them suffered burns on the back and right arm, police said. One victim, Argenis Farias, accused Urbina of being among the attackers. Urbina, who was detained late Monday at another home on the outskirts of Caracas, has insisted he had nothing to do with the violence at the ranch. Urbina's lawyer said the pitcher was sleeping at the time and was not involved. The authorities said Urbina would be formally charged once he appears before a judge. Urbina, a former Montreal Expo, became a free agent after playing the last major league season with the Phillies. "This of course can in some way hurt his career as a professional ballplayer, and all will depend on the way in which he is brought before justice," said defence lawyer Jose Luis Tamayo. Urbina was with his mother and other relatives when the police came with an arrest warrant, Tamayo said. He called the arrest "inexplicable." "Aside from whether a person is guilty of a crime or not, if there is no danger of flight or obstruction of justice, that person has a right to be tried while free," Tamayo said. The lawyer said Urbina has co-operated with the authorities all along, noting he has come to the police voluntarily to provide testimony. It was the second violent incident in a year for the Urbina family. Urbina's mother was kidnapped by drug traffickers in September 2004 and held for $6 million US ransom. She was rescued five months later in a mountainous zone in southern Venezuela. Urbina has a 44-49 record with 237 saves and a 3.45 ERA in 11 seasons. tsn.ca/mlb/news_story.asp?id=142379
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