El Chapo in tears as girls visit trial
Drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman broke down in tears when his twin daughters made a surprise appearance at his trial.
The 61-year- old cried in front of the jury when his wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, 29, and the seven-year-olds walked into the courtroom in New York.
The girls waved at their dad, who has pled not guilty to a string of charges that include drug traff icking, money laundering and conspiring to commit murder.
Guzman’s lawyer Eduardo Balarezo said: “He was visibly crying, eyes bright red and dabbing at his eyes. This is the first time he’d seen his two girls since August.”
Exper ts bel ieve the emotiona l scene on Thursday may have an impact on the jury, helping to humanise the defendant.
Guzman’s wi fe and daughters are the only family members who have been allowed to visit him since his extradition from Mexico to the US last year.
The girls also visited their father on Friday at the Manhattan jail where he is being held in isolation.
Prosecutors say Guzman was the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, who at one stage are thought to have been responsible for more than half of drugs smuggled across the Mexico-US border.
They believe he amassed an £11billion fortune.
Guzman’s lawyers say he’s been scapegoated in a vast conspiracy.
The trial, which started last month, is expected to last another 10 weeks.