Feb. 8 TEXAS: FBI testifies in Edinburg massacre case The leaders of the Tri-City Bombers let gang members steal drugs from rival gangs, but did not approve the slayings of 6 men on Jan. 5, 2003, two FBI agents testified Monday. FBI Special Agents James Egelston and David Bukowski testified that they initially questioned Humberto "Gallo" Garza - who identified himself as a captain in the gang - about an alleged TCB plot to kill an FBI special agent. Garza, 30, of McAllen, faces capital murder charges in connection with the Jan. 5, 2003, shooting deaths of 6 men. In the probable-cause affidavit that led to his arrest on Jan. 24, 2003, Edinburg police investigators identified Garza as one of "the leaders of a conspiracy" that led to the murders. The victims - Jimmy Edward Almendariz, 22; brothers Jerry Eugene Hidalgo, 24, and Ray Hidalgo, 30; brothers Juan Delgado Jr., 32, and Juan Delgado III, 20; and Ruben Rolando Castillo, 32 - were found shot several times in and around 2 small homes at 2915 E. Monte Cristo. Police said masked men entered the 2 homes armed with assault weapons in a pseudo-cop raid. The second of 13 gang members to stand trial for the crime, Garza appeared in District Judge Noe Gonzalezs 370th state District courtroom with defense attorneys Ralph Martinez and Keno Vasquez. Garza smiled at family members who gathered in the courtroom and took advantage of court breaks to wave or call out that they loved him. Gonzalez had the pretrial hearing on the defense attorneys motion to suppress oral statements Garza gave Edinburg police officers and FBI agents on Jan. 24 and 25, 2003. Hidalgo County assistant district attorneys Joseph Orendain and Murray Moore are prosecuting the case. Egleston and Bukowski testified they met with Garza at the Edinburg Police Department after he requested a meeting with the FBI. The bureau was assisting the Edinburg police with its investigation. Garza told them a lower ranking gang member and gang member prospects had suggested killing a female agent who was investigating the gangs activity. But Garza and other higher-ranking gang members did not approve because killing the agent would bring too much law enforcement attention to the gang, Egleston testified. Garza agreed to take a polygraph test regarding the threat against the FBI agent and was transported to the FBI office in McAllen for the test. Egleston said Garza openly gave them information about other gang-related crimes, included the Edinburg murders. "He did speak about the murders of 6 members of the Texas Chicano Brotherhood. He stated that that was supposed to be a robbery. He stated the individuals involved were a bunch of 'trigger-happy' guys," Egleston said. "I believe he was involved in authorizing the robbery but he did not know there was going to be any shooting at that time. Garza indicated the purpose of the robberies was to steal a load of narcotics supposedly at that house in control of the Texas Chicano Brotherhood." Garza also accompanied the agent to Donna, where he showed them where other gang members lived or associated and named other members involved in the murders that police had not yet identified. The agents returned Garza to the Edinburg police station around 3:30 a.m. Jan. 25, 2003. They later shared the information Garza gave them with Edinburg police. Defense attorney Martinez questioned the agents about Garzas first lawyer, Charles Banker, who was removed from representing Garza because of conflicts of interest. Garza had spoken with Banker, who allowed him to take the polygraph and speak with the agents. Pre-trial testimony continues today with Edinburg police detectives and Garzas mother slated to testify. Jury selection will begin after Gonzalez rules on the defenses motions. The judge brought in potential jurors for Garzas trial in October at the same time he empanelled a jury for codefendant Juan Raul Navarro Ramirez, which began on Nov. 30, 2004. Gonzalez empanelled the juries at the same time so media coverage of Ramirezs trial would not taint potential jurors in Garzas case. A jury found Ramirez, 20, guilty and sentenced him to death Dec. 18. Another Tri-City Bomber gang member, Robert Gene "Bones" Garza, 21, was sentenced to death in December 2003 for his involvement in the slayings of four Donna women. He is also charged in the Monte Cristo massacre. Also awaiting separate capital murder trials in Hidalgo County Jail for their alleged role in the Edinburg massacre are Marcial Mata Bocanegra, 27; Juan "Juanon" Arturo Villarreal Cordova, 35; Roberto "Robbie" Cantu, 25; Salvador "Little Sal" Solis, 27; Jorge Norberto "Choche" Martinez, 39; Reymundo "Kito" Sauceda, 29; Rodolfo "Creeper" Medrano, 25; and Jeffrey "Dragon" Juarez, 29. Police are still looking for Ricardo Caballo Martinez Gonzalez, 22, and Juan Miguel "Perro " Nuez, 29, for capital murder charges in connection with the shootings. (source: The Monitor) KANSAS: Court rejects Kline request to reconsider death penalty ruling The Kansas Supreme Court isn't going to reconsider a recent ruling striking down the state's death penalty law, rejecting a request from Attorney General Phill Kline as expected. Kline argued the court could strike down only the provision of the law it found objectionable, rather than the entire 1994 statute. He asked the justices to take up the issue shortly after they ruled in December. But last week, the court refused, without explanation. Spokesman Whitney Watson said Kline will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, something he had already promised to do. The Kansas court's 4-3 majority invalidated the law over a provision governing how juries weigh evidence for and against imposing a death sentence. The law says that if the evidence is about equal, juries must choose death, which the court's majority said represented cruel and unusual punishment. Kansas Supreme Court: http://www.kscourts.org Attorney general's office: http://www.accesskansas.org/ksag (source: Associated Press) ARIZONA: County attorney seeks death penalty for 3 accused killers 3 accused killers are facing the death penalty. Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced today that he's filed notices of intent to seek the death penalty in 3 1st degree murder cases. Defendants Freddy Ernest Mondragon, Marjorie Ann Orbin and Warren Carl Manuel are all charged in 1st degree murder indictments and were alleged to have committed murders under circumstances which would permit seeking the death penalty. Mondragon is charged with 1st-degree murder in the death of his 10-year-old nephew last November. Orbin was arrested in connection with the murder of her former husband, businessman Jay Orbin. He was reported missing September 22nd. Manuel is accused of killing a Phoenix pawnshop worker April 1st. (source: Associated Press) GEORGIA: Dear Friends, Our organisation started a petition for Death Row prisoners at Georgia. 7 Inmates there have to repsresent themselves in front of judges without a public defender. I think every inmate should get the chance of having an attorney. Please send this petition to all groups you know !!!!! http://www.PetitionOnline.com/alive105/petition.html Thank you very very much Chrissy
