Closing Arguments For 2006 Gang Murder
INDIO – Deputy District Attorney Victoria Weiss spent more than 2 hours during closing arguments telling jurors why Miguel Najera should be found guilty. Weiss says Najera, a confessed gang member, was a month and a half out of jail and had something to prove to his gang, the Barrios Cathedral City gang.
“He was back on gang turf. He was back hanging out with BCC homies. And he was back in the gang lifestyle,” says Weiss.
Police arrested Najera in 2006 for killing Adrian Cedeno. He’s also accused of stealing Cedeno’s wallet and watch. Prosecutors say he wanted to kill another man, but instead he shot Cedeno. His defense attorney told the jury his client wasn’t in the gang in 2006 and was just looking for drugs.
“He didn’t go there for the glory of the gang. He went there to satisfy his craving, his drug addiction,” says Defense Attorney Jeff Zimel.
Najera told police he accidentally shot cedeno during an argument. The defense says the victim was on drugs at the time of shooting and started the argument.
“We’re not saying he didn’t pull the trigger. He did. But it wasn’t to kill the man. It was his reaction to the mans movement.”
The prosecution is pushing for the death penalty because of Najera’s gang affiliations and the killing allegedly happened during a robbery. If found guilty, a judge will ultimately determine his fate.
