The hearing itself began more than 30 minutes late while the court waited for a witness. During testimony, the witness claimed he had worked with the defendant in drug trafficking and alleged that after attempting to leave that environment, he received death threats.After the witness finished, Acuña requested permission to testify again. What followed quickly became one of the most replayed moments from the trial. Speaking directly before the court, he made a series of emotional and controversial statements, referring to confrontations during the proceedings and expressing frustration over how events had unfolded.
The defendant also spoke about personal matters, including restrictions on receiving conjugal visits while being held at the Pococí detention center. He denied reports that he had argued with his partner and asked the court to restore those visits, adding another unexpected turn to an already tense hearing.
Following his testimony, the proceedings were briefly interrupted by a discussion over whether Acuña should remain inside the courtroom while another witness testified. Eventually, the witness gave her statement without further incident, allowing the trial to continue.
At the time, prosecutors indicated that Arley Acuña faced at least 39 pending criminal cases. In that particular trial, the Public Prosecutor's Office accused him of offenses including discharging a firearm, extortion, coercion, making threats, and violations of Costa Rica's firearms law.
More than a decade later, the footage remains one of Costa Rica's most recognized courtroom videos. Shared repeatedly on platforms such as YouTube and social media, the hearing has become part of the country's internet history—not because of the verdict itself, but because of the extraordinary exchanges that unfolded inside the courtroom.
