Murder 1 motion postpones sentencing for 5 men convicted in Junior trial

A motion filed in court Thursday by one of the defendants in the Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz murder trial has delayed sentencing for the five men convicted of the teen’s murder.

News 12 Staff

Jul 11, 2019, 12:44 PM

Updated 1,748 days ago

Share:

A motion filed in court Thursday by one of the defendants in the Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz murder trial has delayed sentencing for the five men convicted of the teen’s murder.
Defense lawyer Toni Messina filed the motion on behalf of her client Manuel Rivera to dismiss the murder 1 verdict because she felt the torture element of that charge was not proven during the trial.
The convicted men were supposed to learn their fate on Tuesday, July 16. A new sentencing date has not been determined.
Legal analyst Chris Carrion says the filed motion was expected by the defense. He expects Bronx Supreme Court Judge Robert Neary to deny the motion and schedule sentencing for the end of the summer.
The prosecution will get time to respond to the motion before Judge Neary makes his decision.
News 12 has reported that Jose Muniz, Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, Elvin Garcia, Manuel Rivera and Antonio Santiago were found guilty of murder, conspiracy and gang assault. The five Trinitarios gang members were infamously captured on surveillance video dragging Junior, a 15-year-old from Belmont, out of a Bronx bodega last June and hacking him to death with knives and a machete.
 


More from News 12
1:49
Fire in Newark displaces dozens of people, destroys businesses

Fire in Newark displaces dozens of people, destroys businesses

2:23
Spotty showers overnight with lows around 48; breezy but sunny Wednesday ahead

Spotty showers overnight with lows around 48; breezy but sunny Wednesday ahead

1:17
Police: 4 thieves stole high-end handbags from Montclair shop

Police: 4 thieves stole high-end handbags from Montclair shop

1:37
NJ Business Coalition urges lawmakers to reconsider corporate transit fee

NJ Business Coalition urges lawmakers to reconsider corporate transit fee

0:28
Police: Man accused of stealing steaks from Bayonne Walmart at knifepoint

Police: Man accused of stealing steaks from Bayonne Walmart at knifepoint

0:19
Road rage incident in Jersey City caught on camera; police seek driver

Road rage incident in Jersey City caught on camera; police seek driver

0:56
Jersey Proud: Man walks across the US raising money for ‘America Walks’

Jersey Proud: Man walks across the US raising money for ‘America Walks’

2:00
Seaside Park enacts new ‘No Wake Zone’ law to prevent people causing havoc in flooded streets

Seaside Park enacts new ‘No Wake Zone’ law to prevent people causing havoc in flooded streets

1:07
Paterson middle school briefly goes into lockdown following gunshots at nearby home

Paterson middle school briefly goes into lockdown following gunshots at nearby home

2:04
Police: Crews rescue 46 dogs from fire inside Pio Costa industrial complex in Fairfield

Police: Crews rescue 46 dogs from fire inside Pio Costa industrial complex in Fairfield

0:31
Sources: Body recovered in Barnegat Bay believed to be missing Island Heights woman

Sources: Body recovered in Barnegat Bay believed to be missing Island Heights woman

1:52
Police: South Brunswick crash involving car and motorcycle kills 1

Police: South Brunswick crash involving car and motorcycle kills 1

0:55
News 12 and Red Bulls host Weather Education Day at Red Bull Arena

News 12 and Red Bulls host Weather Education Day at Red Bull Arena

0:20
Police: Burglar found in crawl space at Ocean Township diner

Police: Burglar found in crawl space at Ocean Township diner

Police: 1 person killed in car crash on Route 535 in South Brunswick

Police: 1 person killed in car crash on Route 535 in South Brunswick

0:29
Moscow court rejects Evan Gershkovich's appeal, keeping him in jail until at least June 30

Moscow court rejects Evan Gershkovich's appeal, keeping him in jail until at least June 30

0:27
Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A named world’s best terminal by Skytrax

Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A named world’s best terminal by Skytrax

1:52
Rahway police seek public’s help identifying suspects in attempted car thefts, burglaries

Rahway police seek public’s help identifying suspects in attempted car thefts, burglaries

0:29
Former Wildwood mayor indicted for 2nd time, accused of tax evasion

Former Wildwood mayor indicted for 2nd time, accused of tax evasion

0:31
Authorities ID 3 people killed in South Brunswick crash

Authorities ID 3 people killed in South Brunswick crash