CAMERON COUNTY, TX (CBS News 4) – The remaining defendants in the murder case of Jose Francisco Palacios-Paz learned their fate Friday morning.
Fernando Luna was sentenced to 10 years in prison. His sentence will be probated due to his testimony against the rest of the defendants. Fernando previously pleaded guilty to a possession of a controlled substance charge.
Additionally, Aaron Rodriguez Medellin and Nestor Manuel Leal pleaded guilty to murder and are both sentenced to 15 years in prison. Their sentences include credit for jail time already served.
According to the state, Medellin and Leal knew of the intentions to kill Palacios-Paz.
On Tuesday, a Cameron County jury found Fernando’s brother Joel Luna not guilty on capital murder and murder charges, but convicted him on two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity. Joel agreed to a sentence of 20 years in prison. He will be sentenced in March.
The jury also convicted Eduardo Luna on all four counts of capital murder, murder and two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity. He was given a mandatory life sentence without parole.
Fernando Luna, Medellin, Leal face deportation as authorities discovered that they resided in the country illegally prior to their arrest.
*The defendants worked for the Gulf Cartel. The victim’s head was never recovered.
Shoot someone, back page news. Decapitate someone, headlines.
The more sensational the manner of death, the more “newsworthy”.
In a world where ole “blood and guts” Patton would be deemed a “lightweight”, one has to sensationalize the manner of death. Body parts, decapitated heads are the norm, desensitized to the point where the “shock” value is gone.
What will they come up with next. We’ve been at it so long now. Stretch racks, whippings, chopping parts off, down to the bamboo shoot up the arse, we’ve been very creative in the manners of death we’ve come up with. If there are space aliens, I’m sure they can’t wait to meet us.