The defense of David Castillo, conducted by Juan Sanchez Cantillano and Ritza Antunes, representatives of the interests of the Atala Zablah family, have consummated a delaying maneuver with the objective of releasing David Castillo due to the expiration of his pretrial detention. Ritza Antunes represented Army Major Mariano Díaz, who was convicted of the murder of Berta Cáceres.

COPINH and other national and international organisations have expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the trial, particularly with the recent decision not to allow Berta Cáceres´ children to observe it.