Post by CCADP on Aug 25, 2005 9:49:17 GMT -5
Slaying on lovers lane is described for jurors
A plan to rob South Side rap artist Tommy Garcia Jr. went according to
plan until one of the assailants fired a shot and Garcia began running for
his life.
That was the testimony Wednesday from Francisco Martinez Gonzales, 35, who
already has pleaded guilty to murder in Garcia's slaying in exchange for a
40-year prison term.
The testimony came on the 2nd day of trial for Juan Edwardo Castillo, 24,
who is facing a death sentence on a capital murder charge in the Dec. 3,
2003, killing of Garcia.
Prosecutors allege Castillo was the triggerman in a plot among two couples
to lure Garcia to a dark, lovers lane and rob him of jewelry, cash and
other valuables.
Also charged were the girlfriends of Castillo and Gonzales. Castillo's
girlfriend, Debra Espinosa, 28, was arrested Dec. 31, 2003, and pleaded
guilty, on Aug. 8, to aggravated robbery in exchange for a 40-year prison
term. Gonzales' girlfriend, Teresa Quintero, was arrested two months ago
and charged with aggravated robbery.
Quintero is accused of being the driver of the getaway car. Her case is
pending.
Gonzales testified he and his girlfriend met Castillo at Espinosa's home
on the evening of Dec. 2, 2003, when Espinosa began making calls to
potential victims.
Gonzales said the 1st would-be victim turned her down because it was too
late in the evening. The 2nd person she called was Garcia, who picked her
up a short while later in his 1994 Camaro, Gonzales said.
Gonzales said the plan was for Espinosa to get Garcia into his front
passenger seat with a promise to perform oral sex.
"It was just supposed to be a simple robbery to take his money and the
dope he had on him," Gonzales testified.
But with the couple parked in the 9700 block of Clamp Avenue, the plan
went awry, he said.
Wearing a bulletproof vest and a ski mask, and carrying a 9 mm
semiautomatic pistol, Castillo was to accost Garcia, while Gonzales was to
grab Espinosa out of the driver's seat, Gonzales said.
"We both hit it at the same time. The passenger door was locked and
Juanito hit the window with the butt of his gun and shattered the glass."
Moments later, Gonzales said, he heard the gun go off.
"Tommy yelled out in pain, 'Ahhhh,' like he took the bullet. That's when I
took off my mask. I didn't want nothing more to do with it," Gonzales
recalled.
Gonzales said Garcia got out of his car and began running away.
"Juanito shoots him 2 more times in the back. Tommy falls down, and then
(Castillo) goes up to him and shoots him four more times in the back,"
Gonzales added.
Under cross-examination by defense attorney Bill Harris, Gonzales
repeatedly denied he was the triggerman.
Defense attorneys contend Gonzales and Espinosa named Castillo as the
triggerman to avoid the death penalty.
(source: San Antonio Express-News)
A plan to rob South Side rap artist Tommy Garcia Jr. went according to
plan until one of the assailants fired a shot and Garcia began running for
his life.
That was the testimony Wednesday from Francisco Martinez Gonzales, 35, who
already has pleaded guilty to murder in Garcia's slaying in exchange for a
40-year prison term.
The testimony came on the 2nd day of trial for Juan Edwardo Castillo, 24,
who is facing a death sentence on a capital murder charge in the Dec. 3,
2003, killing of Garcia.
Prosecutors allege Castillo was the triggerman in a plot among two couples
to lure Garcia to a dark, lovers lane and rob him of jewelry, cash and
other valuables.
Also charged were the girlfriends of Castillo and Gonzales. Castillo's
girlfriend, Debra Espinosa, 28, was arrested Dec. 31, 2003, and pleaded
guilty, on Aug. 8, to aggravated robbery in exchange for a 40-year prison
term. Gonzales' girlfriend, Teresa Quintero, was arrested two months ago
and charged with aggravated robbery.
Quintero is accused of being the driver of the getaway car. Her case is
pending.
Gonzales testified he and his girlfriend met Castillo at Espinosa's home
on the evening of Dec. 2, 2003, when Espinosa began making calls to
potential victims.
Gonzales said the 1st would-be victim turned her down because it was too
late in the evening. The 2nd person she called was Garcia, who picked her
up a short while later in his 1994 Camaro, Gonzales said.
Gonzales said the plan was for Espinosa to get Garcia into his front
passenger seat with a promise to perform oral sex.
"It was just supposed to be a simple robbery to take his money and the
dope he had on him," Gonzales testified.
But with the couple parked in the 9700 block of Clamp Avenue, the plan
went awry, he said.
Wearing a bulletproof vest and a ski mask, and carrying a 9 mm
semiautomatic pistol, Castillo was to accost Garcia, while Gonzales was to
grab Espinosa out of the driver's seat, Gonzales said.
"We both hit it at the same time. The passenger door was locked and
Juanito hit the window with the butt of his gun and shattered the glass."
Moments later, Gonzales said, he heard the gun go off.
"Tommy yelled out in pain, 'Ahhhh,' like he took the bullet. That's when I
took off my mask. I didn't want nothing more to do with it," Gonzales
recalled.
Gonzales said Garcia got out of his car and began running away.
"Juanito shoots him 2 more times in the back. Tommy falls down, and then
(Castillo) goes up to him and shoots him four more times in the back,"
Gonzales added.
Under cross-examination by defense attorney Bill Harris, Gonzales
repeatedly denied he was the triggerman.
Defense attorneys contend Gonzales and Espinosa named Castillo as the
triggerman to avoid the death penalty.
(source: San Antonio Express-News)