GANG MEMBER TESTIFIES TRIO PRESENT AT SHOOTING.Byline: Janet Gilmore Daily News Staff WriterA gang member testified against his buddies Monday, placing them in the dark alley where 3-year-old Stephanie Kuhen was fatally shot when her family took a wrong turn in September 1995. Marvin Pech
The Pech , 20, testified that three of the men now on trial for Stephanie's murder were in the Cypress Park alley that night and armed with weapons. He also said he saw the fourth man on trial near a trash can In the Macintosh, a simulated garbage can used for deleting files and folders. The trash can keeps the files intact in case the user wants to restore them, but can be "emptied" from time to time to save disk space. that prosecutors say was used to block the car carrying Kuhen, her mother, uncle, siblings and a family friend. But Pech told the jury he did not actually see who opened fire. He said he remembers what happened when the car struck the trash can and accelerated: ``gunshots, muzzle flash Muzzle blast is the term used to describe the release of hot, high pressure gases from the muzzle of a firearm when it is discharged. Muzzle flash is the term used to describe the visible light of the muzzle blast. , sparks,'' he said. ``It wasn't `all hell broke loose' or panic,'' said Pech, ``just, everyone for themselves.'' Pech said he thought his acquaintances were being fired upon. Even after the shots subsided, he testified, ``We all asked each other, what happened?'' The men on trial for the murder are Manuel Rosales Manuel Antonio Rosales Guerrero (b. 12 December 1952, in Santa Bárbara del Zulia) is a Venezuelan politician and current governor of the State of Zulia. Rosales was a presidential candidate, representing a broad spectrum of parties and organizations opposed to incumbent president Jr. 22; Hugo Gomez, 24; Anthony Rodriguez Anthony Rodriguez (born 4 November 1979) is a French judoka. Achievements Year Tournament Place Weight class 2005 World Judo Championships 5th Half middleweight (81 kg) European Judo Championships 5th Half middleweight (81 kg) References Pech was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying against his acquaintances. Authorities have moved Pech for his personal safety, and he was escorted to and from court by plainclothes plain·clothes or plain-clothes adj. Wearing civilian clothes while on duty to avoid being identified as police or security: a plainclothes detective. detectives. During cross-examination, several defense attorneys suggested that Pech was willing to do anything - and give up anyone - to save himself. Pech acknowledged that he initially lied to police and created a phony alibi. But Pech also suggested he had little reason to fear prosecution. ``I didn't think I did anything wrong,'' he said. Pech testified that he was in the alley, drinking beer and just hanging out with about 20 other gang members and associates with names like ``Skooby'' and ``Tricky,'' when a car pulled up, turned around and startled star·tle v. star·tled, star·tling, star·tles v.tr. 1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start. 2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten. everyone when it hit a trash can. In testimony that supported some of the defense attorneys' opening statements, Pech said it was so dark that he could not see any of the passengers in the car and he is not certain if he saw the driver. ``Did you see a 3-year-old child in the car?'' asked defense attorney Paul Catalano, who represents Rosales. ``No,'' Pech replied. ``Did you see any child in that car?'' the attorney continued. ``No.'' |
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