Hollister
– Two Hollister teenagers accused of first-degree murder must
wait until July 23 to find out if they will stand trial,
prosecution and defense lawyers decided Friday.
Hollister – Two Hollister teenagers accused of first-degree murder must wait until July 23 to find out if they will stand trial, prosecution and defense lawyers decided Friday.
A judge was set to begin hearing the prosecution’s case Friday against Gonzalo Munguia, 19, and Emilio Roman, 18, in the slaying of fellow Hollister teen Daniel Gallegos.
But because the court hearing is expected to last more than a day – and there were scheduling conflicts, too – District Attorney Candice Hooper requested that Judge Alan Hedegard continue the hearing in July.
“Instead of continuing in three weeks, we can do it all at once,” Hooper said.
Shortly before midnight July 10, Hollister police found Gallegos and his younger brother on Hillcrest Road.
Gallegos had been run over by a car. Investigators believe Munguia drove the car that ran over Gallegos and that Roman was a passenger, according to the district attorney’s office.
Authorities believe Gonzalo and Roman are members of the Sureños. Catherine Lara, Gallegos’ mother, maintains that her 18-year-old son was never in a gang.
Munguia faces a charge of first-degree murder with a special allegation that he did it for a criminal street gang. The special allegation makes Munguia eligible for the death penalty.
Hooper told the Free Lance in March that she will seek the death penalty for Munguia.
Bud Landreth, Munguia’s attorney, has said no jury will be convinced to put his client to death.
Roman’s attorney, Greg LaForge, stood outside of the courtroom after the proceedings with two thick black brief cases containing defense evidence for his client.
“We’re disappointed,” he said. “We wanted to start the preliminary hearing. We’re ready to proceed.”
LaForge maintained his client wasn’t in the car when it ran over Gallegos, killing him.
Hedegard will hear evidence from prosecutors and defense attorneys at the preliminary hearing, and will decide whether to try the two teens.
Munguia and Roman are being held at the San Benito County Jail without bail.
