EGN NEWS DESK
After deliberating lower than two days, jurors discovered Jose Luis Hernandez not responsible of the 2021 demise of 51-year-old Mauricio E. Moreno.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Sophia Choi ordered the case closed after receiving the jury’s unanimous verdict late Wednesday morning. The panel had gone behind closed doorways Monday afternoon to start weighing proof from the practically weeklong trial.
Hernandez’s lawyer couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.
The lethal struggle occurred on the night time of July 10, 2021, within the defendant’s and sufferer’s shared residence at 13855 Sylmar Drive, close to Cottonwood Avenue and Heacock Street, based on the District Attorney’s Office.
A prosecution trial temporary stated Hernandez returned dwelling from work that night time to seek out Moreno and the defendant’s buddy, recognized solely as “Rickie,” in a fistfight, with Moreno apparently dominating. Hernandez’s sister and one other feminine relative, whose identities weren’t disclosed, have been making an attempt unsuccessfully to cease the fisticuffs.
Court papers alleged Hernandez “positioned the sufferer in a chokehold and strangled him unconscious.”
After Moreno went limp, Hernandez launched him and proceeded upstairs to his bed room, the place he “grabbed a knife and yelled from the highest of the steps, difficult the sufferer to a struggle,” based on the temporary.
Moreno regained consciousness and heard the shouts, received to his ft and made his means up the staircase. When he reached the highest and got here towards Hernandez, the defendant “swung the knife,” stabbing his stepdad within the coronary heart, the narrative acknowledged.
Moreno collapsed and tumbled again down the steps, the place Rickie and the 2 ladies instantly tried to stanch the bleeding and render different assist, based on the prosecution.
Court papers stated Hernandez joined the others in making an attempt to save lots of Moreno’s life.
Deputies have been known as to the residence, together with paramedics, and took the defendant into custody with out incident. Moreno was transported to close by Riverside University Medical Center, the place he was pronounced dead on arrival.
