A Kentucky lady died whereas awaiting trial within the taking pictures dying of an El Paso Uber driver on a freeway close to the U.S.-Mexico border, her former lawyer mentioned.
Phoebe Copas confronted a homicide cost in a trial set to begin on April 28 within the killing of 52-year-old Daniel Piedra Garcia as he was driving her to Talking Rock Leisure Middle within the Decrease Valley through U.S. 54 on the afternoon of June 16, 2023.
Phoebe Copas
Copas’ former lawyer, Matthew James Kozik, confirmed her dying on Tuesday, March 25; the reason for dying was not disclosed. The trial date had been delayed as Copas had confronted severe medical points, together with apparently collapsing at a court hearing in December.
Copas claimed she shot Garcia in self-defense, claiming she was scared he was going to kidnap her and take her to Juárez, Mexico.
At heart, Ana Piedra, the spouse of Daniel Piedra Garcia, is comforted by household and pals throughout a vigil for her husband who was fatally shot on US 54 whereas driving for Uber on June 16, 2023. The vigil was held at Memorial Park.
Piedra was killed unjustly, his relations beforehand mentioned, saying they needed justice for a hardworking household man, including that Copas had acted recklessly and that she ought to have spoken up or referred to as 911 if she was scared.
“Phoebe Copas was and stays an harmless lady,” Kozik mentioned in a press release, reiterating the declare that the Uber driver had informed Copas that he was taking her to Juárez.
A vigil is being held Friday, June 23, 2023, for Daniel Piedra Garcia, an Uber driver who died after being shot by a passenger June 16, 2023, on US 54 in South-Central El Paso.
Kozik said that the locks and home windows of the car weren’t operational and that there have been razor blades within the car. He additionally countered the police narrative as “false and that at no time did she report defending herself as a result of she noticed an indication to Juárez.”
“It has been disappointing to see some in our neighborhood react to this case in a means that we, as a various neighborhood, ought to know higher,” Kozik mentioned. “Nobody ought to rejoice within the dying of Mr. Piedras or Ms. Copas.”
Daniel Borunda could also be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X. Reporter Aaron Martinez contributed to this report.
This text initially appeared on El Paso Instances: Former attorney confirms death of woman accused in Uber driver’s killing
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