Jury finds man guilty of shooting and killing former KLAQ DJ

A jury has found the man accused of shooting and killing a former KLAQ DJ guilty of Murder.

Leonel Hernandez shot and killed Richard Madrigal on June 11, 2016 inside Madrigal’s apartment on the 4100 block of Westside.

Hernandez showed little emotion when the verdict came down. He was comforted by both of his attorneys while his family stood behind him, some relatives in tears. The sentencing phase is underway, with Hernandez facing anywhere from five to 99 years in prison.

Testimony revealed the killing appeared to be linked to a possible love triangle involving Hernandez, Madrigal and Marinda Palacios .

At the time of the killing, Palacios was separated from her husband and was dating Hernadez . The night before Madrigal was killed, Palacios spent the night at Madrigal’s apartment.

Palacios , charged for failing to report Madrigal’s murder, agreed to testify against Hernandez. In exchange, the charge against her would be dropped.

The day Madrigal was killed, Palacios texted her daughter the following message: ” I think Leo killed Rick. ”

During the trial, prosecutors presented additional text messages between Palacios and Hernandez in an effort to paint the defendant as being jealous of Madrigal.

A text from Palacios to Hernadez said, ” Sorry you felt jealous, but it doesn’t give you the right to stalk me. ”

Palacios told the jury she went out to a bar with Madrigal and ended up staying the night at his house, but did not have sex with him. They woke up the next day and continued to drink and ” hang out, ” she said.

Later that day, Hernandez came over to Madrigal’s apartment. Palacios said she heard two gun shots and saw Madrigal on the floor.

Palacios and Hernandez then checked into a hotel and visited a bar sometime that night, the woman testified.

Palacios testified she was too scared to call for help or call the police: ” I was going to be next if he (Hernandez) found out I told someone, ” the woman said.

Hernandez’s defense team attempted to discredit Palacios , telling the jury she only agreed to testify against Hernandez because prosecutors agreed to drop the charge against her.

” Marinda was bad news. She was trashy and a bad decision, ” said a defense attorney during closing arguments. The attorney showed the jury showing photos of Palacios kissing Madrigal the night before the murder, and showing photos of her with other men the night after the murder.

During closing arguments, the defense also pointed out several text messages Palacios sent her daughter, her husband and her best friend several hours after the murder.

She texted her best friend, ” I think we Leo killed rick. ” The defense asked the jury to focus on the ” we. ”

It was reveled during testimony that Palacios went to a hotel after the murder and then went out drinking. Palacios also testified she never called 911 to report Madrigal’s murder.

The defense told the jury, ” Don’t let her manipulate you. You know she could have gotten help and she didn’t. ”