Post by CCADP on Aug 25, 2005 9:46:53 GMT -5
Jury to head out on capital murder case deliberations
Jurors are expected to begin deliberating today to decide if Rodolfo
"Kreeper" Medrano is guilty in connection with a pseudo-cop
raid-turned-massacre that left 6 people dead on Monte Cristo Road in 2003.
Closing arguments are set for 8 a.m. today.
Medrano, 26, is accused of providing high-powered assault weapons to the
lower-ranking Tri-City Bombers who shot six men in and around 2 small
homes at 2915 E. Monte Cristo Road shortly after midnight Jan. 5, 2003.
In his recorded statement to police, Medrano said he was a sergeant in the
Tri-City Bombers. He acted as the gangs treasurer and had purchased the
weapons for $300 from a gun dealer at a McAllen gun show.
Prosecutors - who have the burden to prove Medranos guilt - ended their
case Wednesday after calling witnesses to the stand throughout the trial,
which began Aug. 15 in the 332nd state District Court.
Medrano attorney Hector Villarreal did not call any witnesses and did not
present an opening argument to jurors.
The prosecution contends Medrano told Edinburg police he handed over SKS
7.62 mm weapons to steal a large amount of marijuana thought to be at the
Monte Cristo property.
Medrano was at home watching movies with his wife when the shootings
occurred and told police he learned of them on the evening news the next
day.
Still, prosecutors say Medrano should have anticipated that the weapons
would be used to kill.
One of 13 men charged with capital murder, Medrano is tried under the law
of parties, which allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty against him
for conspiring and aiding other gang members to commit capital murder.
If he is found guilty, Medrano could be the third man to receive the death
penalty for the slayings. Two men, Juan Raul Navarro Ramirez and Humberto
"Gallo" Garza, are on death row after being found guilty of capital murder
in connection with the shootings. Another man indicted in the Edinburg
murders, Robert "Bones" Gene Garza, is already on death row for the
September 2002 murders of 4 women in Donna. Medrano is also charged with
capital murder in the Donna case.
2 of the victims of the Edinburg murders - brothers Jerry Eugene Hidalgo,
24, and Ray Hidalgo, 30 - were believed to be members of the Tri-City
Bombers rival gang, the Texas Chicano Brotherhood. The Chicano Brotherhood
split from the Tri-City Bombers and now the 2 gangs have a green light
policy to fight each other without permission from any higher-ranking
member, Edinburg Police Detective Robert Alvarez testified earlier in the
week.
The other victims were Ruben Rolando Castillo, 32; Jimmy Edward
Almendariz, 22, and half-brothers Juan Delgado Jr., 32, and Juan Delgado
III, 20.
Hidalgo County Assistant District Attorneys Cregg Thompson and Judith
Cantu will speak for the prosecution in todays closing arguments.
Villarreal, Medranos attorney, is expected to present his closing argument
with co-counsel Oscar Rene Flores. State District Judge Mario Ramirez will
continue to preside.
(source: The Monitor)
Jurors are expected to begin deliberating today to decide if Rodolfo
"Kreeper" Medrano is guilty in connection with a pseudo-cop
raid-turned-massacre that left 6 people dead on Monte Cristo Road in 2003.
Closing arguments are set for 8 a.m. today.
Medrano, 26, is accused of providing high-powered assault weapons to the
lower-ranking Tri-City Bombers who shot six men in and around 2 small
homes at 2915 E. Monte Cristo Road shortly after midnight Jan. 5, 2003.
In his recorded statement to police, Medrano said he was a sergeant in the
Tri-City Bombers. He acted as the gangs treasurer and had purchased the
weapons for $300 from a gun dealer at a McAllen gun show.
Prosecutors - who have the burden to prove Medranos guilt - ended their
case Wednesday after calling witnesses to the stand throughout the trial,
which began Aug. 15 in the 332nd state District Court.
Medrano attorney Hector Villarreal did not call any witnesses and did not
present an opening argument to jurors.
The prosecution contends Medrano told Edinburg police he handed over SKS
7.62 mm weapons to steal a large amount of marijuana thought to be at the
Monte Cristo property.
Medrano was at home watching movies with his wife when the shootings
occurred and told police he learned of them on the evening news the next
day.
Still, prosecutors say Medrano should have anticipated that the weapons
would be used to kill.
One of 13 men charged with capital murder, Medrano is tried under the law
of parties, which allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty against him
for conspiring and aiding other gang members to commit capital murder.
If he is found guilty, Medrano could be the third man to receive the death
penalty for the slayings. Two men, Juan Raul Navarro Ramirez and Humberto
"Gallo" Garza, are on death row after being found guilty of capital murder
in connection with the shootings. Another man indicted in the Edinburg
murders, Robert "Bones" Gene Garza, is already on death row for the
September 2002 murders of 4 women in Donna. Medrano is also charged with
capital murder in the Donna case.
2 of the victims of the Edinburg murders - brothers Jerry Eugene Hidalgo,
24, and Ray Hidalgo, 30 - were believed to be members of the Tri-City
Bombers rival gang, the Texas Chicano Brotherhood. The Chicano Brotherhood
split from the Tri-City Bombers and now the 2 gangs have a green light
policy to fight each other without permission from any higher-ranking
member, Edinburg Police Detective Robert Alvarez testified earlier in the
week.
The other victims were Ruben Rolando Castillo, 32; Jimmy Edward
Almendariz, 22, and half-brothers Juan Delgado Jr., 32, and Juan Delgado
III, 20.
Hidalgo County Assistant District Attorneys Cregg Thompson and Judith
Cantu will speak for the prosecution in todays closing arguments.
Villarreal, Medranos attorney, is expected to present his closing argument
with co-counsel Oscar Rene Flores. State District Judge Mario Ramirez will
continue to preside.
(source: The Monitor)