The single trial planned for two men accused in the death of a five-year-old Beloit boy , is being split into two separate cases. Rock County Judge Michael Haakenson Thursday morning approved a request to separate the case of 23-year-old Eric Salazar-Mota from 26-year-old Sergio R. Ortiz because of a Bruton issue. A Bruton error regards the constitutional right of confrontation when a confessing defendant’s statement is used against a non-confessing defendant at their joint trial. Salazar-Mota, Ortiz, and two other defendants, Hugo Martinez and Isaac Torrez are accused in the drive-by shooting death of Austin Ramos, who was riding in the back seat of a car with his father two years ago last January.
