Accused man convicted for fatal stabbing
It was good news and bad news for two brothers in Supreme Court today. This morning, after three hours of deliberation, a jury found Norris Martinez not guilty of murder or manslaughter in the death of forty-five year old Reno Castillo. But, it was back to prison for his brother Wayne Martinez as that same jury declared him guilty of murder. The two were arrested on October tenth, 2005 after a fight which led to the death of Castillo. According to court reports, just after midnight on that day, Castillo and a group of friends were walking along Newtown Barracks when at the corner of Wilson Street, Norris and Wayne rode up on bicycles and Norris took a cap and sunglasses off Castillo’s head. Castillo went after the men and a fight broke out during which it is alleged that Norris handed Wayne a knife which he used to stab Castillo four times to the head and body. Castillo died hours later while receiving treatment at the K.H.M.H. Prosecutor Douglas Carr told the court that for his part in the murder, Norris was just as guilty as Wayne, while defence attorney Michael Peyrefitte maintained that while his clients were involved in a fight with Castillo, neither of them did the stabbing. Wayne will be sentenced by Justice Adolph Lucas on June seventh.