Results tagged “mastrangelo” from Inland Empire Courts

By Mike Cruz on December 4, 2008 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

A Riverside man facing charges in the execution-style shooting of an aspiring rapper was ordered held over for trial at a hearing Thursday in Barstow, prosecutors confirmed.

Judge Miriam I. Morton ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold over for trial Dudzai "Prosper" Pswatai in the death of 24-year-old Robert Raymond Mastrangelo, of San Bernardino, during a preliminary hearing in Barstow Superior Court.

The hearing was the second one Pswatai has received in the case. Prosecutors dismissed and then quickly refiled charges against him on Nov. 25, causing the case to start over, because more time was needed for investigation.

A Riverside man charged with last year's execution-style shooting of an aspiring rapper is set for a second preliminary hearing Thursday in Barstow.

Dudzai "Prosper" Pswatai is receiving the second preliminary hearing because prosecutors dismissed and then quickly refiled charges against him Nov. 25 in the death of 24-year-old Robert Raymond Mastrangelo, of San Bernardino.

The refile caused the case to start over. At the time, prosecutors said they needed more time for the investigation and were awaiting DNA test results.

A criminal trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday for a Riverside man charged with the execution-style shooting death of an aspiring rapper in June 2008, prosecutors confirmed.

Dudzai Pswatai has been charged with murder, robbery, kidnapping and torture in the death of Robert Raymond Mastrangelo, whose body was found in a drainage ditch along the 15 Freeway.

Pswatai, 20, of Riverside, is scheduled for trial in Barstow Superior Court.

Pswatai also faces a charge that the act was to promote of a street gang.

mike.cruz@inlandnewspapers.com