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Trial begins in Fowler murder D.J. Hunter, 19, abducted, beaten, shot, then set on fire in his pickup. By Matt LeedyThe Fresno Bee(Published Wednesday, January 21, 2004, 5:41 AM)
D.J. Hunter drove a truck almost everyone in Fowler recognized. It was hard not to remember its chrome rims, hydraulic suspension and souped-up stereo in a rural Fresno County town of about 4,100.The dark gray 2000 GMC pickup truck, which classmates considered the best at their high school, was the focus of a murder trial that began Tuesday in Fresno County Superior Court.
Hunter, a recent Fowler High School graduate, was shot and killed March 22, 2001. The 19-year-old's body was found in the back of his burned truck, which had been stripped of its stereo system and three 20-inch rims.
Before the pickup was picked apart and charred, it was widely recognized in the close-knit community of Fowler and most knew it belonged to Hunter, his mother, Humiyo Wright, testified.
"Everyone knows each other's children, and we watch them grow up," said Wright, whose father once was Fowler's mayor and a City Council member.
The trial of Jose David Romero, 19; Martin Castro, 18; and Alfred Cruz, 19, is expected to last three weeks. They were juveniles at the time of Hunter's death but face murder and robbery charges as adults. If found guilty of both charges, they could be sentenced to life in prison.
A woman and two men also face charges of murder with special allegations but will be tried separately. Since Jesus Lopez, 29; Daniel Justin Ortega, 25; and Stacey Daniella Dyer, 23, were adults when Hunter was slain, they could be executed if convicted. The District Attorney's Office has not decided whether it will seek the death penalty in that case.
On the day he died, Hunter left a friend's home shortly before 1 a.m. He then was abducted, beaten with the butt of a shotgun and kept in the bed of his truck, which had a locking cover, prosecutor Dennis Peterson said in his opening statement Tuesday.
Hunter gave his abductors his wallet, told them he wouldn't call police if they let him go and pleaded for his life, asking, "Why? Why?"
After more torture, he was shot four times in the head. His truck was doused in gasoline and set on fire in rural southwest Fresno County.
The three young defendants told acquaintances and investigators about the extent of their involvement in the robbery, beating and murder, Peterson said.
Cruz reportedly told an investigator that he wore leather gloves before removing the stereo. Cruz also used the butt of a sawed-off shotgun to hit Hunter, a witness will testify, Peterson said.
The witness, Ramiro Roman Jr., pleaded to robbery charges in exchange for his testimony. Roman also will tell the jury that Castro and Romero were at the scene when Hunter was killed and his body burned in his truck, Peterson said.
The prosecutor plans to call another witness who was told by Castro, "You know we ran and killed someone."
Castro's attorney, T.J. Richardson, said his client had nothing to do with Hunter's murder. He called Roman a liar and said his story has changed several times. Castro's aunt will testify that he was at home when Hunter was killed, Richardson said.
Eric Green, Cruz's lawyer, told the jury that his client knew Hunter's truck was stolen and may have helped remove the stereo but had nothing to do with the teenager's death.
"He didn't say, 'Here's a gun. Go kill him. Here's some gasoline. Go burn him,' " Green said. "And my client did not participate."
Green also told jurors to be skeptical when listening to Roman's testimony "because Ramiro Roman got a deal to testify. His motivation to testify is clear."
Ernest Kinney, Romero's lawyer, placed blame on the three older suspects.
Romero acted as a lookout for what he thought was only a robbery, Kinney said. "I'm not saying he was perfect. He was there, but he did not murder anyone."