Jurors Need More Time To Decide Fate Of Convicted Killer
EL PASO — After an emotional day of final arguments from both sides, jurors decided to wait one more day before deciding whether 38-year-old David Renteria will live or die.
Renteria was convicted in the brutal murder of 5-year-old Alexandra Flores back in 2003. He was sentenced to death but are-sentencing trial was granted after defense lawyers argued the jury did notget a chance to hear a statement of remorse from Renteria.
More than 100 people packed into the 41st District Court to hear closing arguments Monday. Members of both the Flores and Renteria families were present. In fact, Flores’ mother was seated just a few seats away from Renteria’s.
Prosecutor Lori Hughes stressed to the jury that all the evidence they have heard over the past two weeks shows Renteria not only is guilty of kidnapping and killing the 5-year-old in November 2001, but that he would likely do the same things again, if he is not given the death penalty.
Hughes asked jurors to consider how many opportunities Renteria had to change during his life and compare that to how many chances he gave Alexandrato live.
“Don’t be tricked orfooled. Don’t let him manipulate you. Don’t believe his lies. It is clear. The evidence is overwhelming,” a prosecutor.
The defense argued the Renteria is a good inmate and is not a threat. “His past good conduct certainly means he has the capacity to believe in the future,” argued one of the defense attorneys.
Close to the end of the session, Renteria’s mother and a member of the jury broke down in tears.
