New York court overturns first-degree murder conviction in ‘Junior’ Guzman-Feliz case

A New York State Court of Appeals on Thursday overturned a first-degree murder conviction against a member of the Trinitarios gang who delivered the fatal blow with the machete that killed 15-year-old Lesandro “Junior” Guzmán-Feliz in 2018.

Jonaiki Martínez Estrella, who was sentenced to life without parole for a brutal murder caught on camera, must now be re-sentenced to a lesser charge of second-degree murder, for which he faces 25 years to life in prison. behind bars, the appeals court ruled.

The “extremely heinous” machete-and-knife murder on June 20, 2018 “clearly depicted” how Martínez Estrella delivered the fatal blow to Guzmán-Feliz’s neck, the First Department’s Appeals Division said in a ruling.

However, the appellate judges concluded that prosecutors had not reached the high bar to prove first-degree murder in the Martinez Estrella case.

“We consider that the evidence was legally insufficient to prove that the defendant tortured the victim within the meaning of the law in two respects,” the ruling reads.

Specifically, the five-judge panel stated that prosecutors were unable to prove that Martínez Estrella engaged in a “pattern” aimed at “torturing” Guzmán-Feliz and was unable to prove that he “enjoyed” or took pleasure in the murder.

Martínez Estrella was among several Trinitarians who dragged Guzmán-Feliz from a Bronx wine cellar and stabbed him on the sidewalk, falsely believing the teenager was part of a rival gang – a despicable act that rocked the city and drew nationwide attention.

Judge Robert Neary in 2019 sentenced five gunmen who killed Guzmán-Feliz, including Martinez Estrella.

Martinez Estrella’s attorney, Stephen Feynman, explained that first-degree murder charges are usually brought against police killings and acts of terrorism.

And to bring charges of first-degree murder outside of those situations, prosecutors must prove the additional elements that the perpetrator engaged in a “pattern” with the intent to torture the victim, meaning he enjoyed the act, the lawyer said. .

“There was simply no evidence that could satisfy the first-degree murder elements of the torture theory,” Feynman said. “Therefore, the court properly set aside the conviction of the appellant for this crime.

“It must be emphasized that it is extremely difficult to satisfy the elements of first-degree murder in accordance with the theory of torture,” Feynman added.

Martinez Estrella’s case should be returned to the lower court so he can face a new conviction on the remaining charges of second-degree murder, gang assault and conspiracy.

The Bronx District Attorney’s office, which filed the case, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.