Stares down ‘killers’ in court
The mother of tragic teen Lesandro “Junior” Guzman Feliz seethed, “Killer!” at her son’s accused murderers in court Thursday.
“Asesino!” Leandra Feliz shouted in Spanish at Kevin Alvarez, one of the 14 reputed Trinitarios gangbangers accused of butchering her innocent 15-year-old son outside a Bronx bodega in June in a case of mistaken identity.
At least 10 of the accused were in court for a hearing Thursday, including Jonaiki Martinez-Estrella, who allegedly delivered the fatal wound by dragging a knife across the teen’s neck during the caughton-camera killing.
“All I want to say is that we are asking for justice for my son Junior,” the mother said in Spanish outside court.
“They left me dead in life. My heart is broken.”
Thursday’s hearing was not the first time Feliz lashed out at the accused killers.
In July, she shouted “Asesino” at Martinez-Estrella and Danel Fernandez as they walked out of Bronx Criminal Court.
“This is a terrible day for me — seeing them, the faces of those who assassinated my son, but I ask God for justice, and that is what will be done,” Junior’s father, Lisandro Guzman, said in Spanish outside court.
Meanwhile, a defense attorney for one of the accused killers threw the other 13 suspects under the bus in trying to keep his client’s face out of the media.
“My client is entitled to a fair trial. In this case, there has been intensive media coverage,” lawyer Donald Vogelman said of suspect Danilo Payamps Pacheco.
“My client might be the only one who is not guilty,” he continued, eliciting several audible scoffs from the packed courtroom.
“He was just barely present at the scene of a gruesome crime and he is being prejudiced by this.” All 14 have pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to begin in February.