http://www.nj.com/news/bridgeton/loc...60.xml&coll=10

Saturday, November 19, 2005
By MATT DUNN
Staff Writer
BRIDGETON -- Although Adrian Martinez was sentenced Friday to eight years in state prison, the fact that he has spent 858 days in county jail since his arrest means he'll only have to serve about four years of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Martinez, 23, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced Friday in connection with the 2003 stabbing death of 18-year-old German Perez of Church Street.

He pleaded guilty Oct. 3 to second-degree aggravated manslaughter.

"He acted recklessly," public defender Jorge Godoy said of his client. "He acted irresponsibly."

Martinez, who does not speak English, had nothing to say to the court through a court-appointed interpreter.

He stood with his head lowered, a mop of dark hair obscuring his face.

Because Martinez pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, he waived his right to claim self-defense.

The diminutive man told police on the night of his arrest he was merely defending himself against Perez after an argument between the two men escalated into violence.

Martinez met Perez at a party on Laurel Street in Bridgeton on July 13, 2003.

Godoy said Friday when a fight broke out between the two men, both were armed with knives.

"It was one of those situations where both people acted irresponsibly," he stated.

Martinez, born in Veracruz, Mexico, is essentially a nice, respectable young man, according to Godoy.

What brought him to Bridgeton really exemplifies the immigrant story, he added.

"He came for no other reason but to work," Godoy said.

Prior to his arrest, Martinez was employed by a palette company, the name of which escaped Godoy.

"Unfortunately he found himself in this spontaneous situation," he remarked.

Following his release from prison, Martinez could be headed back to Mexico.

"He has an immigration detainer lodged," Godoy noted.

An immigration detainer advises law enforcement that the Immigration and Naturalization Service seeks custody of an illegal alien for the purpose of arresting and removing that individual.