BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER
Four people who have been charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of a 16-year-old Santa Barbara boy all entered a plea of not guilty yesterday in Superior Court.
Two of those facing charges, Brian Steven Medinilla and Ruben Nicholas Mize, are 16 years old and will be tried as adults, said Deputy District Attorney Hans Almgren, the prosecutor. The other two who face murder charges are Emilio Mora and Carlos Diaz, both 19. All four face two counts each of attempted murder in connection with two other stabbings that occurred the same night.
Almgren said Mize has been charged with a third count of attempted murder that stems from a Jan. 17, 2008 stabbing.
All of the suspects face gang enhancements, which could significantly lengthen any sentence if they are found guilty.
Santa Barbara Police say these suspects are responsible for confronting Lorenzo Valentin Carachure, 16, and two other men near Carachure’s home on San Pascual Street just before 11 p.m. on July 16, 2007.
When the victims fled, police say the suspects chased them down one by one and stabbed them. Carachure suffered the brunt of the attack and died from his injuries. The two other men survived.
Carachure’s murder came four months after the death of 15-year-old Luis Angel Linares, who was stabbed eight times in the intersection of State and Carrillo Streets during a midday gang brawl.
The boy charged with Linares’ murder, Ricardo “Ricky” Juarez, 15, is still awaiting trial.
The most recent case may move more briskly than the one involving Juarez. Almgren said a preliminary hearing is scheduled to commence in Judge Clifford Anderson’s courtroom next Wednesday. Preliminary hearings are held to determine if there’s enough evidence to require a jury trial.
A fifth man, Robert Joseph Martinez, 21, who has been charged with accessory to murder after the fact in the Carachure case, also entered a plea of not guilty.
Almgren said the five defendants will be tried at the same time as co-defendants.
Martinez’ bail has been set at $1 million. The other four defendants are being held without bail.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Murder suspects plead not guilty
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3 comments:
LIKE I SAID BEFORE
AS THE SATE REQUIRES
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GIULTY IN A COURT OF LAW
THIS MORNINING FRIDAY MAY 16TH 2008 JUDGE ANDERSON LOWERED THE BAIL FOR ROBERT MARTINEZ FROM 1-MILLION DOLLARS TO 1-HUNDERED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IT SEEMS THAT MR MARTINEZ HAS NO PREVIOUS CRIMINAL RECORD.
AND THAT THE ONLY EVIDENCE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SEEMS TO HAVE AGAINST MR MARTINEZ IS THAT HE KNEW,AFTER THE FACT THAT THERE WAS AN ALTERCATION WHERE THE YOUNG GANGSTER VICTIM WAS KILLED.
ACCORDING TO CALIFORNIA STATE LAW A PERSON CAN HAVE KNOWLEDGE THAT A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITED.
AND THAT PERSON HAS NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO REPORT IT.
AND YOU CANT REALLY ARGUE WITH THE LAW.IF WE DONT LIKE CERTAIN LAWS THEN SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHANGE IT.
AS FOR NOW THAT IS THE LAW!
WE SHOULD ALL REMEMBER THAT THE GANGSTER VICTIM IN THIS CASE SHOULD NOT BE REFFERED TO AS AN INNOCENT VICTIM.
HE WAS AN ACTIVE GANG MEMBER AND HAS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN OTHER GANG ALTERCATIONS IN THE PAST.
WHEN YOU WANT TO PLAY GANG BANGER THERE ARE HIGH PRICES TO PAY FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED!
IT SEEMS THAT THIS PARTICULAR TIME IT WAS HIS TURN TO PAY THE PRICE.
WHO WILL BE NEXT TO MAKE THAT BIG PAYMENT?
IT ALL SOUNDS COOL IN YOUR FAVORITE GANGSTER RAP SONG.
BUT THATS ALL FANTASY.
ITS MUCH DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE!
THE RAP ARTIST MAKES THE MONEY AND YOU PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE!
WHOS THE INTELLEGENT ONE AND WHOS THE FOOL?
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