GANGSTER GETS TWO LIFE SENTENCES.Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer SAN FERNANDO - The second of two gang members convicted in a random series of deadly shootings in the Valley was sentenced Tuesday to two life terms in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted for murdering two men and attempting to kill two others in a game of ``sport.'' German ``Flaco'' Coreas COREA - Construction, Operation and Reciprocal Easements Agreement, 24, of Northridge, who sported tattoos linking him to the extremely violent Mara Salvatrucha gang, was convicted last month on two counts of murder and an additional count of attempted murder. Coreas and Antonio Torres and were convicted in shootings that spanned from Nov. 11, 2002, to Feb. 14, 2003. ``It's just such pointless violence,'' said Deputy District Attorney James Garrison after the short hearing in San Fernando Superior Court. ``It's great to send these guys away, but I can't believe this stuff still happens because it literally is over nothing.'' Defense attorney Victor Salerno Salerno (sälār`nō), city (1991 pop. 148,932), capital of Salerno prov., Campania, S Italy, on the Gulf of Salerno, an inlet of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is an agricultural, commercial, and industrial center. Manufactures include machinery, textiles, construction materials, and processed food. was disappointed. ``The evidence against him (Coreas) on three of the counts was extremely weak,'' Salerno said in an e-mailed statement. ``I believe the jury was prejudiced because of his admitted gang affiliation and based their verdicts on something far, far less than proof beyond a reasonable doubt reasonable doubt n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt to a moral certainty. Thus, a juror (or judge sitting without a jury) must be convinced of guilt of a crime (or the degree of crime, as murder instead of manslaughter) "beyond a reasonable doubt," and the jury will be told so by the judge in the jury instructions. However, it is a subjective test since each juror will have to decide if his/her doubt is reasonable..'' Torres was convicted of three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder, including special circumstances, and was sentenced last month to three life prison terms without the possibility of parole. Jason Kandel, (818) 713-3664 jason.kandel(at)dailynews.com |
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