SIX SUSPECTS IN MEXICAN COMEDIAN'S KILLING RELEASED

Judge: Not Enough Evidence To Convict

MEXICO CITY -- A celebrity murder case that has captivated Mexico took a
stunning turn Thursday when a judge released all six suspects in the
killing of television comedian Francisco ``Paco'' Stanley, saying there
wasn't enough evidence to convict them.

Although prosecutors could appeal to a higher court, the judge's decision
was a serious setback to their team, which had tried to prove that
Stanley's comic sidekick had plotted to murder him. A reputed drug lord, a
Uruguayan dancer and three others were in on the plot, prosecutors alleged.

Judge Rafael Santana Solano read the verdict to a crowd of reporters and
relatives of the defendants packed tightly into a sweltering second-floor
hallway. Earlier, a brawl had broken out between photographers jostling for
spots.

The June 1999 killing, carried out in broad daylight, stunned Mexico.
Stanley, one of the country's best-known TV personalities, was leaving a
Mexico City restaurant with a group of friends when gunmen riddled his
black sport-utility vehicle with at least two dozen bullets. A bystander
also died, and three people -- including one of the friends -- were wounded.

Thursday's verdict riveted the Mexican public once again. Television
stations pulled away from regular programming all day to give updates.

When the verdict was finally read -- more than three hours late because,
reporters were told, a copy machine had broken down -- cheers broke out in
the building, and family members of the defendants hugged and wept.

After reading the verdict, the judge ordered the immediate release of Mario
Bezares, Stanley's television co-host; Paola Durante, a dancer with a bit
part on the show; Jose Mart(acu)nez, an assistant on the show; Jorge
Garc(acu)a, Stanley's chauffeur the day he was killed; and Erasmo Perez
Garnica, alias ``El Cholo,'' who was accused of being the gunman.

Luis Amezcua, a reputed drug lord accused of ordering the hit from his
prison cell, will remain in jail in connection with other crimes but was
also cleared in the Stanley case.

All six had been charged with premeditated murder, attempted murder and
causing bodily harm.

Stanley, who was 56 when he died, hosted a top-rated variety program called
``One After the Other,'' on the Azteca television network.

He had hardly been buried when authorities announced that they had found
traces of cocaine in his urine. Bezares, who had accompanied him to the
restaurant, was also found to have cocaine in his system.

Prosecutors also alleged that Stanley had ties to organized crime, and they
said the killing was a professional hit.

The biggest shock, however, came the following month, when authorities
arrested Bezares on suspicion of participating in a murder plot.
Investigators said he and the four others had carried out a plot ordered by
Amezcua from prison.

Stanley was said to have owed Amezcua, one of three brothers known as ``the
Speed Kings,'' a large sum of money.

Bezares played straight man to Stanley's often vulgar and demeaning humor.
He seemed to quietly bear his frequent humiliation on the show. But
investigators said he stood to gain from Stanley's death and that he helped
delay the television star's exit from the restaurant.

All those charged claimed innocence, and Durante's family in particular
campaigned strongly for her release.

Bezares was emotional Thursday, thanking his lawyers, the judge, the
Mexican people and the press for his release.

Juan Luis Montero, Durante's attorney, said the case was ``an advance for
Mexican justice, but we can't call it a victory.'' The case against Durante
was a ``caprice,'' he said, that cost the dancer months of her life.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, said they would respect the verdict but would
examine the ruling closely.