Paxton Prosecution Unit Helps Convict Killer

Austin, Texas. The efforts of Attorney General Paxton’s Criminal Prosecution Division resulted in a Starr County jury finding Gerardo Echavarria Jr. guilty of the murder of Juan Raul Requenes. On February 28, 2009, Echavarria and Requenes got into a fight over Echavarria’s then fiancé. After the fight ended, Rekenes left, got into his pickup truck, and attempted to leave the scene.

An independent witness told law enforcement that Echavarría then stalked Requenes and fired a handgun into the driver’s side window several times after he started his car. Echavarría then opened the driver’s side door and continued firing at Requenes. Rekenes was hit four times and died from his injuries.

At trial, Echavarria testified that he acted in self-defense. The jury rejected his self-defense claim and found him guilty after a three-hour deliberation. After a sentencing hearing, Judge Federico Hinojosa sentenced Echavarria to 25 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Echavarría was initially put on trial and convicted for the crime in 2010. However, ten years later, he was given a new trial due to juror misconduct. The case was retried by Assistant Attorneys General Andrew Rowntree and Joshua Somers. They were assisted at trial by an OAG sergeant. Investigator Richard Faithfull. They were also assisted prior to trial by Sergeant OAG. Investigator Brandon Reiser.