Jury reaches verdict in Montclair murder trial

UPDATED AT 5:40 P.M.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A jury took less than two hours this afternoon to reach a verdict in a Montclair man's murder trial, but the verdict will not be read until Wednesday morning because an attorney was unable to appear, a prosecutor said.

A jury of nine women and three men retired to deliberate at about 2:20 p.m. today after hearing closing arguments from attorneys in the murder trial of Ruben Castellanoz, who is accused of shooting and killing a Montclair teen last year to bolster his reputation among gang members.

Shortly after 4 p.m., the jury announced it had reached a verdict for the Feb. 4, 2008 shooting death of 19-year-old Lotu Palei, said Deputy District Attorney Mary Izadi.

The verdict was not read this afternoon because Castellanoz's defense attorney was unable to return to West Valley Superior Court, Izadi said.

The verdict is scheduled to be read at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The verdict will not become official until it is read, and jurors could still change their minds, Izadi said.

The jury has the option of convicting Castellanoz of first-degree murder, second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter.

In her closing argument, Izadi portrayed Castellanoz, 23, as a calculated killer who bragged about Palei's death.

"This case is not about being scared," Izadi said. "It's about trying to earn your stripes."

Defense attorney Andrew Haynal told jurors that Castellanoz shot Palei in self-defense because he believed Palei was a threat.

"Ruben had a legitimate fear for his safety and the safety of his friends," Haynal said.

Following the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, 2008, Castellanoz and a group of four other people were drinking and socializing in an alley near Castellanoz's apartment.

After midnight, Palei approached the group, reportedly shouting the name of an Ontario street gang as he arrived. Witnesses said he kept a hand in his pocket, as if he was possibly holding a gun.

Palei socialized with the group for the next half-hour, but did not exchange words with Castellanoz, according to witnesses.

During Palei's visit, Castellanoz walked to his apartment and retrieved a revolver. Shortly after Castellanoz returned to the alley, he shot Palei three times, killing him.

In July last year, Castellanoz bragged to a police informant about the killing but also said he perceived Palei as a threat when he shot him. Castellanoz was arrested and charged with murder following the conversation with the informant.

Both prosecution and defense attorneys used the recorded conversation with the informant -- portions of which were played in court today -- to argue their positions.

Haynal told the jury that Castellanoz did not know Palei prior to the night of the killing, and believed Palei was a gang member because he shouted the name of a violent street gang.

Haynal conceded that "perhaps Castellanoz jumped the gun" in shooting Palei, but Castellanoz's statements to the informant indicated he believed Palei posed an imminent danger.

Izadi called Castellanoz's self-defense claims "unfathomable."