Thread: TX: 2 Illegals guilty of felony murder in death of officer

Pair guilty of felony murder in death of officer
By BRIAN ROGERS HOUSTON CHRONICLE
June 4, 2010, 11:55AM


Jurors this morning found two people guilty of felony murder in the June 2009 shooting death of undercover Houston police officer Henry Canales.

Xiomara Mendez-Rosales, 37, and Andres Nava-Maldonado, 42, both illegal immigrants, could face life sentences as jurors begin hearing testimony before deciding punishment.

They deliberated about five hours beginning Thursday afternoon before deciding the pair were guilty of engaging in organized crime and felony murder.

Prosecutors said Canales, 42, was shot and killed by Roberto Pedroza Carrillo in a barrage of gunfire during a sting operation in which the officer was trying to sell “stolenâ€

Defendants guilty of murder in officer's death

WITH VIDEO


HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Jurors reached verdicts for two defendants accused of murder in the death of Houston police officer Henry Canales.

Xiomora Mendez Rosales and Andres Nava were both found guilty in the 2009 shooting death of Officer Canales, even though neither one of them pulled the trigger.

Background story

Both Rosales and Nava, who were in the country illegally, showed no emotion as they listened to the translations of closing arguments yesterday. The family and friends of Officer Canales, meanwhile, often wiped away tears.

Though neither defendant fired the shot that killed Officer Canales, or any shot for that matter, prosecutors say their actions led to his death.

Canales was killed by a third suspect, Roberto Carrillo, who died that night.

The prosecution argued that Rosales and Nava were part of an organized criminal group that bought and sold stolen goods and knew their behavior could turn to deadly violence.

During testimony, jurors heard both defendants negotiate and buy what they thought were stolen TVs from Canales, an important point since jurors have been given several options, including finding the defendants guilty or not guilty of organized criminal activity and another option of theft.

While Mendez and Nava were tried together, they each received their own verdicts.

The sentencing phase of the trial is now underway. They could both get life in prison. Stay with abc13.com and Eyewitness News for the very latest on this story.


http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=7478764

Man, woman found guilty in shooting death of HPD officer

HOUSTON—A man and woman charged in the shooting death of an undercover HPD officer were found guilty of murder and criminal activity Friday.

Officer Henry Canales was gunned down during a reverse sting operation in a Walgreens parking lot in 2009.

Police said Canales was fatally shot by a third suspect, Roberto Pedroza Carrillo, but Andres Nava-Maldonado and Xiomara Mendez-Rosales were accomplices.

On the night of the shooting, the suspects met an undercover Canales to purchase TVs and laptops – said to be stolen -- out of the back of a van, police said.

During the purchase, police said Carrillo opened fire, sparking a gun battle that left both he and Canales dead.

Prosecutors said both Nava-Maldonado and Mendez-Rosales should have anticipated that Carrillo wanted to kill Canales, and that they’d gone to the deal to rob the officer.

Defense attorneys said Officer Canales made a mistake that night and never gave a second signal for other officers to come in and make the arrests.

The defense said their clients believed that they were getting robbed, and that Nava-Maldonado and Mendez-Rosales even called 911 to report the robbery and shooting.

A graphic audiotape of the exchange between the officer and his killers, recorded on a watch microphone worn by Canales, was played in court for jurors.

On the tape, Canales is heard making the $6,500 deal in Spanish. After negotiations were completed, he’s heard repeating the phrase he thought would trigger backup—"It’s a done deal" – several times before an explosion of gunfire.

The officer’s last words were "It’s a done deal. I’m shot."

Prosecutors maintained that could be heard saying "shoot him" in Spanish slang before the shots rang out – a claim defense attorneys denied.

Nava-Maldonado and Mendez-Rosales, both illegal immigrants, could face up to life in prison for their crimes.

Canales, a 16-year veteran of the force, left behind a wife and two teenage children.

Friends and colleagues described him as a man of many passions: a dedicated lawman, a championship drag-racing aficionado and a devoted husband and father.

Canales was also very involved in the "Beat the Heat" program, which shows kids and teens the dangers of drugs and illegal street racing.


http://www.khou.com/news/Man-woman-foun ... 25459.html

http://www.click2houston.com/news/23793180/detail.html

Verdict Reached In Cop Killers' Trial
Officer Henry Canales Killed In June 2009

POSTED: Friday, June 4, 2010
UPDATED: 11:57 am CDT June 4, 2010

HOUSTON -- A verdict has been reached in the case of two people charged in the death of a Houston police officer during an undercover sting operation, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.


Andres Nava-Maldonado, 42, and Xiomara Mendez-Rosales, 37, were charged with murder and engaging in organized criminal activity.

Jurors found both defendants guilty on both counts. They could face up to life in prison.

Officer Henry Canales, 42, was shot to death during an undercover stolen electronics operation on Bellaire Boulevard near Hillcroft Street in June 2009.

Canales worked the sting operation with his partner when they met Roberto Carrillo, a prospective buyer of about $30,000 worth of "stolen" television sets. Investigators said that as they discussed the sale, Carrillo pulled a gun and tried to rob Canales. Both men fired shots and both died at the scene.

Prosecutors contended the defendants were involved in a theft when Canales was killed and they should have foreseen the illegal deal might end in violence.

Evidence showed that Mendez-Rosales knowingly arranged to buy the stolen TVs, along with Carrillo. Nava-Maldonado was recruited to drive them to the meeting with the dealer, but they did not know that the dealer was a Houston police officer, according to testimony.

Nava-Maldonado and Mendez-Rosales accompanied Carrillo and fled in a van after the shooting, police said. They were arrested less than a mile away.

Defense attorneys said there was no evidence that either took part in the shooting, but admitted that the defendants lied to police after the killing. They insisted that at most, Nava-Maldonado and Mendez-Rosales are guilty of attempted robbery and not murder.

Both defendants are in the country illegally.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/23793180/detail.html


Previous Stories:

* June 3, 2010: Jurors Deliberate In Accused Cop Killers' Trial
* June 2, 2010: Both Sides Rest In Accused Cop Killers' Trial
* June 1, 2010: 911 Call Played In Court
* May 28, 2010: Prosecutors Wrap Up Accused Cop Killers' Trial
* May 26, 2010: Witness Testifies About Autopsies
* May 25, 2010: Officer Testifies About Fatal Undercover Sting
* May 24, 2010: Defense Wants Mistrial In Accused Cop Killers' Trial
* May 21, 2010: Jurors Hear Officer's Final Moments
* May 20, 2010: Tape: Accused Cop Killers Called 911
* May 19, 2010: Officers Testify In Accused Cop Killers' Trial
* May 18, 2010: 2 On Trial For Officer's Death
* July 2, 2009: Pastor Plans To Sue Police Officer
* June 29, 2009: Slain Officer Laid To Rest
* June 28, 2009: HPD: Officer's Killer Had Stolen Items
* June 26, 2009: 2 Go To Court In Officer's Death
* June 25, 2009: Murder Suspects' Crimes Revealed
* June 25, 2009: 2 Charged In Officer's Death
* June 24, 2009: 2 Charged In Officer's Slaying
* June 24, 2009: HPD Officer Killed In Line Of Duty

Added to Homepage with amended title:

Two illegals found guilty of felony murder in death of officer
http://www.alipac.us/article-5329--0-0.html

Justice is served to these two illegal aliens. Hope they enjoy their stay in America now.

Yet Houston is still a SANCTUARY CITY!

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

Yet Houston is still a SANCTUARY CITY!

and probably always will be

Originally Posted by bigtex

Justice is served to these two illegal aliens. Hope they enjoy their stay in America now.

How many police officers have to die at the hands of illegal lovers? This is SICKENING!! Let me pose this question to Texas voters. We have Perry, who is an illegal lover that wants to destroy our state, THEN we have White, who is an illegal lover that wants to destroy our state. What the hell do we do? We are sooooo screwed it isn't even funny. The republicans AND democrats in Texas are fools. Who do we vote for? Bigtex, do you want to run for governor? Because I would totally vote for you!! You think I'm kidding, which I'm not.

BIGTEX for Governor!! I will hand out flyers!!

Originally Posted by DarthIllegal

The republicans AND democrats in Texas are fools. Who do we vote for? Bigtex, do you want to run for governor? Because I would totally vote for you!! You think I'm kidding, which I'm not.

BIGTEX for Governor!! I will hand out flyers!!

I am WAY too radical to be a politician, plus there is not a politically correct bone in my body. Thanks anyway! How about Ted Poe. This guy was a great judge here in Houston. I think he would make a great Governor. Bu then he would also make a great presidential candidate.

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

Yet Houston is still a SANCTUARY CITY!

Yes, our openly gay mayor who lied to people about her stance on running a sanctuary just to get elected did a flip flop on us. What a shock, huh? She is just a Democrat doing what Democrats do best.