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Gene Kennedy Reporting A murder trial was to get underway today. Daniel Herrera, 19, is accused of murdering Richard Martinez last September. But there's a new twist in the case.
Two hours into the process of jury selection this morning, Herrera decided to plead guilty.
Herrera admitted to the court, to his family and to the victim's family that he shot Richard Martinez to death in September 2005.
Martinez was walking his dogs in Settlement Canyon by a reservoir. He encountered Herrera, and the two had an argument. We still don't know what they argued about or what motivated the shooting.
Herrera today admitted he left the canyon, came back with a gun and shot Martinez to death, then confessed all of it to his parents.
Originally he was charged with murder, but today he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and two other second degree felonies.
Prosecutors say Martinez's mother is satisfied with the plea deal.
Gary Searle, Prosecutor: "She got the chance to hear him stand there today and say he pulled the trigger. He's pleading guilty to manslaughter, without having to worry that a jury would come back and find him not guilty."
This past July Herrera's mother and another man were shot at a campsite. The Tooele County Sheriff at that time speculated that it was payback for the Martinez murder. Still, members of the Martinez family have never been charged. All of that is still under investigation.
Dozens of family members poured out of the courtroom today stone-faced. Not one of them would make a comment to the press, and they said that fear of all of this is the reason.
Herrera's sentencing is set for next Tuesday. He could face five years to 55 years in prison.
