Suspected Azusa gang member to serve as own attorney in Pomona murder trial
As Staff Writer Will Bigham reports, an alleged Azusa gang member is planning on representing himself at his murder trial in Pomona. He's accused of killing a woman in retaliations after she testified against another high-ranking member of the Azusa 14 gang, Ralph Flores, who murdered four people. We reported extensively on the Flores case.
He's an excerpt from Bigham's story:
He's an excerpt from Bigham's story:
POMONA - An alleged gang member accused of murdering a woman who testified in a gang case was granted permission by a judge Friday to act as his own attorney.
Rodney Colonel Perez, 30, could face the death penalty for allegedly shooting and killing 24-year-old Roberta Romero last year in Pomona.
Prosecutors believe that Romero, of Azusa, was killed on May 11, 2009, because she testified against a high-ranking member of the Azusa 13 street gang who was convicted of four murders and sentenced to death.
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
It's Azusa 13 not Azusa 14 (14) is for North Side gangs that wear Red and are in Northern California. As for (13) is for South Side gangs in Southern California that wear Blue.