Post by Anja on Jun 10, 2006 20:26:43 GMT -5
Death penalty sought in child death case----Velez accused of biting,
burning, shaking 1-year-old
Prosecutors told a state district judge on Friday that they will seek the
death penalty against Manuel Velez who, along with his girlfriend, was
accused of killing her 1-year-old son.
The prosecutors, however, did not decide whether they will seek the death
penalty against the girlfriend, Acela Rosalba Moreno, 25, who was also
charged with capital murder in the October death of her child, Angel.
Velez, 42, appeared before Judge Menton Murray with the 103rd state
District Court on Friday where special prosecutor Louis Saenz announced
the decision to seek the death penalty.
Velez's attorney, Gary Ortega, said he and his client were expecting the
death penalty decision.
"From day one, it's been a death penalty case," Ortega said.
Both Velez and Moreno, Brownsville residents, were accused of biting,
burning, shaking and torturing the child before finally killing him.
The Friday morning announcement to seek the death penalty against Velez
prompted Ortega to ask Murray to allow Velez to hire a forensic
pathologist, a private investigator and a second attorney using court
funds.
Murray granted the requests but neither approved nor denied a 4th request
by Velezs attorney to receive Acela Moreno's family violence records from
the Friendship of Women.
Velez claims Moreno's ex-husband Juan Chavez, who is Angel Morenos father,
beat her and possibly injured the boy.
Murray ordered the Brownsville shelter to surrender the records to him so
could decide if they can be used in the case.
Ortega told Murray that his client claims that Angel Moreno received the
fatal injuries at times when was working out of state and before to his
relationship with the boy's mother.
Velez also claims that dental records will prove that the baby boy was
bitten by children and not him.
Ortega said Velez also believes that the boy was also injured in another
incident in which his mother was carrying him while she was drunk and then
tripped and fell dropping him on the stairs of their East Brownsville
apartment.
Velez's family and 8-year-old son from another relationship were in the
courtroom but said they still stand by him and his inno-cence.
Murray said in open court that the case would be heard before Judge Abel
Limas with the 404th state District Court but told prosecutors he was
disappointed that they did not decide if they will seek the death penalty
against Acela Moreno.
Court records show that Velez is scheduled to go to trial in September,
while Acela Moreno will go to trial in October.
"That doesn't give the defendant enough time to prepare a defense," Murray
told Saenz if they later seek the death penalty against Acela Moreno.
Saenz said prosecutors would meet to decide the issue.
Velez remains in custody under $1.1 million in bonds, while Moreno is
jailed under $2.1 million in bonds.
(source: Brownsville Herald)
burning, shaking 1-year-old
Prosecutors told a state district judge on Friday that they will seek the
death penalty against Manuel Velez who, along with his girlfriend, was
accused of killing her 1-year-old son.
The prosecutors, however, did not decide whether they will seek the death
penalty against the girlfriend, Acela Rosalba Moreno, 25, who was also
charged with capital murder in the October death of her child, Angel.
Velez, 42, appeared before Judge Menton Murray with the 103rd state
District Court on Friday where special prosecutor Louis Saenz announced
the decision to seek the death penalty.
Velez's attorney, Gary Ortega, said he and his client were expecting the
death penalty decision.
"From day one, it's been a death penalty case," Ortega said.
Both Velez and Moreno, Brownsville residents, were accused of biting,
burning, shaking and torturing the child before finally killing him.
The Friday morning announcement to seek the death penalty against Velez
prompted Ortega to ask Murray to allow Velez to hire a forensic
pathologist, a private investigator and a second attorney using court
funds.
Murray granted the requests but neither approved nor denied a 4th request
by Velezs attorney to receive Acela Moreno's family violence records from
the Friendship of Women.
Velez claims Moreno's ex-husband Juan Chavez, who is Angel Morenos father,
beat her and possibly injured the boy.
Murray ordered the Brownsville shelter to surrender the records to him so
could decide if they can be used in the case.
Ortega told Murray that his client claims that Angel Moreno received the
fatal injuries at times when was working out of state and before to his
relationship with the boy's mother.
Velez also claims that dental records will prove that the baby boy was
bitten by children and not him.
Ortega said Velez also believes that the boy was also injured in another
incident in which his mother was carrying him while she was drunk and then
tripped and fell dropping him on the stairs of their East Brownsville
apartment.
Velez's family and 8-year-old son from another relationship were in the
courtroom but said they still stand by him and his inno-cence.
Murray said in open court that the case would be heard before Judge Abel
Limas with the 404th state District Court but told prosecutors he was
disappointed that they did not decide if they will seek the death penalty
against Acela Moreno.
Court records show that Velez is scheduled to go to trial in September,
while Acela Moreno will go to trial in October.
"That doesn't give the defendant enough time to prepare a defense," Murray
told Saenz if they later seek the death penalty against Acela Moreno.
Saenz said prosecutors would meet to decide the issue.
Velez remains in custody under $1.1 million in bonds, while Moreno is
jailed under $2.1 million in bonds.
(source: Brownsville Herald)