News (Media Awareness Project) - US CA: Trial Ordered For Suspects In Death of Teen Informer |
| Title: | US CA: Trial Ordered For Suspects In Death of Teen Informer |
| Published On: | 1998-09-10 |
| Source: | Orange County Register (CA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-07 01:27:09 |
TRIAL ORDERED FOR SUSPECTS IN DEATH OF TEEN INFORMER
If convicted, the three held in Chad MacDonald's killing could face death.
A Los Angeles judge ordered three suspects to stand trial Wednesday for the
strangulation of a teen-ager who had worked as a Brea police informant.
Michael L. Martinez, 21, Florence Noriega, 29, and Jose Ibarra, 19, could
face the death penalty if convicted of the March 3 slaying of 17-year-old
Chad MacDonald, a crime that sparked debate about the use of minors as
police agents.
Municipal Court Judge Stephen Marcus ordered the suspects to trial after
three days of testimony that included the first account of the killing from
MacDonald's teen-age girlfriend.
According to the girlfriend's testimony, the suspects accused her and
MacDonald of working for the police, strip-searched them while looking for
a hidden "wire," then strangled MacDonald. The girlfriend said Ibarra raped
her before the three suspects drove her to a ditch, choked her with a rope
and shot her in the face. She survived.
The hearing also focused on MacDonald's involvement in methamphetamine
trafficking and use, which took place even after he had agreed to help
police arrest other drug dealers to avoid his own prosecution on sales
charges. Brea police officials said they severed their relationship with
MacDonald in February after he was arrested a second time in possession of
methamphetamine.
Attorneys for Martinez and Ibarra said they belive the evidence will show
MacDonald was killed as payback for his work for the Brea police, not
during a robbery or sexual assault, special circumstances that could lead
to the death penalty.
Ibarra's lawyer, Forrest Latiner, said he will urge the District Attorney's
Office not to seek the death penalty, in part because of MacDonald's
drug-dealing background.
"He didn't deserve to be beaten and strangled and dumped in an alley - but
he's not a babe in the woods," Latiner said.
MacDonald's family has sued the Brea police, contending officers misled the
teen-ager and his mother and put him in danger. State lawmakers have passed
a bill that would restrict the use of minors as police informants.
Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson
If convicted, the three held in Chad MacDonald's killing could face death.
A Los Angeles judge ordered three suspects to stand trial Wednesday for the
strangulation of a teen-ager who had worked as a Brea police informant.
Michael L. Martinez, 21, Florence Noriega, 29, and Jose Ibarra, 19, could
face the death penalty if convicted of the March 3 slaying of 17-year-old
Chad MacDonald, a crime that sparked debate about the use of minors as
police agents.
Municipal Court Judge Stephen Marcus ordered the suspects to trial after
three days of testimony that included the first account of the killing from
MacDonald's teen-age girlfriend.
According to the girlfriend's testimony, the suspects accused her and
MacDonald of working for the police, strip-searched them while looking for
a hidden "wire," then strangled MacDonald. The girlfriend said Ibarra raped
her before the three suspects drove her to a ditch, choked her with a rope
and shot her in the face. She survived.
The hearing also focused on MacDonald's involvement in methamphetamine
trafficking and use, which took place even after he had agreed to help
police arrest other drug dealers to avoid his own prosecution on sales
charges. Brea police officials said they severed their relationship with
MacDonald in February after he was arrested a second time in possession of
methamphetamine.
Attorneys for Martinez and Ibarra said they belive the evidence will show
MacDonald was killed as payback for his work for the Brea police, not
during a robbery or sexual assault, special circumstances that could lead
to the death penalty.
Ibarra's lawyer, Forrest Latiner, said he will urge the District Attorney's
Office not to seek the death penalty, in part because of MacDonald's
drug-dealing background.
"He didn't deserve to be beaten and strangled and dumped in an alley - but
he's not a babe in the woods," Latiner said.
MacDonald's family has sued the Brea police, contending officers misled the
teen-ager and his mother and put him in danger. State lawmakers have passed
a bill that would restrict the use of minors as police informants.
Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson
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