Results tagged “rapper” from Inland Empire Courts

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.

The criminal trial for a Riverside man, who was charged with the execution-style shooting death of an aspiring rapper, has been delayed by prosecutors so they continue an ongoing investigation in the case.

Officially, prosecutors dimissed charges - and then re-filed them - against Dudzai Prosper Pswatai in the death of 24-year-old Robert Raymond Mastrangelo, of San Bernardino, in Barstow Superior Court, Deputy District Attorney Shannon Faherty confirmed by telephone Wednesday.

The refiling of charges starts the case over from the beginning, Faherty explained. Pswatai is set to return to court Dec. 2. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Dec. 4, she said.

A man suspected in the execution-style slaying of 24-year-old rapper Robert Mastrangelo is scheduled to be formally arraigned Wednesday after a judge determined last week there was sufficient evidence to hold him on the charges.

Dudzai Prosper Pswatai faces charges of murder, kidnapping, robbery and a newly added fourth count of solicitation of murder of a witness when he is arraigned in Barstow Superior Court, according to Deputy District Attorney Shannon Faherty.

Pswatai, 20, also faces a special allegation for the use of a firearm for the first three counts, Faherty said.

A Superior Court judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold over for trial defendant Dudzai Prosper Pswatai in the execution-style shooting death of 24-year-old rapper Robert Mastrangelo during a hearing Thursday.

After listening to testimony, Judge John B. Gibson ordered Pswatai held to face charges of murder, kidnapping, robbery and a newly added fourth count of solicitation of murder of a witness, confirmed Deputy District Attorney Shannon Faherty.

Pswatai also face a special allegation for the use of a firearm for the first three counts, Faherty said.