Thread: Woman pleads to manslaughter of disabled man

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006 ... 302097.txt

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 11:17 PM CDT

Woman pleads to manslaughter of disabled man

By Brett Nauman
bnauman@pantagraph.com


BLOOMINGTON -- A Honduran woman pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Tuesday in a deal that guarantees she’ll spend time in prison for the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend.

Guadelupe Medina, 31, smiled and nodded her head in agreement as Judge Scott Drazewski asked if she wanted to forego a trial and plead guilty to killing Alberto Ramos during a hearing Tuesday.

According to the agreement with prosecutors, Drazewski could sentence Medina to between four and seven years in prison Oct. 31.

Prosecutors say Medina stabbed Ramos 50 times during a dispute May 26, 2005 at the apartment they shared in Bloomington.

Ramos, who was disabled from polio and used a wheelchair, attacked Medina while she was taking a shower in the apartment, she told police.

During the confrontation, Medina told police she took the knife from Ramos and stabbed him repeatedly in the neck and head because she feared he’d kill her.

Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Patton on Tuesday agreed Ramos was “the initiator” in the attack and acknowledged Medina suffered defensive stab wounds.

Patton said police also found an unfinished note in the apartment written in Ramos’ handwriting that said “I just killed Lupe and then…”

Medina told police Ramos said “This is the day you’re going to die” when he came into the bathroom with the knife. Medina told Ramos she was leaving him for another man shortly before the incident, prosecutors said.

Conceding there was also evidence of domestic violence committed by Ramos against Medina during their 10-year relationship, Patton said Tuesday’s negotiated plea provided an appropriate punishment.

“The evidence would have shown the initiator was Alberto Ramos. The defendant did have stab wounds to her side, hand and arm,” Patton said. “That coupled with the note … all that supported the involuntary manslaughter charge.”

Patton agreed to dismiss a charge of second-degree murder against Medina that could have resulted in a prison sentence between four and 15 years.

The second-degree murder charge stated Medina believed she was justified in killing Ramos, but that her belief was “unreasonable.”

A trial on the second-degree murder charge was scheduled to begin Tuesday. Jurors were dismissed before it could start after Medina pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Medina, who has been in jail for nearly 14 months, will serve about half of the sentence she receives and will get credit for time already served.

Patton said Medina, who was in the U.S. illegally when she killed Ramos, will likely be deported as soon as she gets out of prison.

Killed a disabled man.