BRAWLEY — Jurors convicted two El Centro men Thursday for their roles in last year’s unprovoked attack of a man near Swarthout Park that left him with as many as five stab wounds.
The jurors reached their guilty verdict against defendants Javier Romo and Luis Scott a day after prosecuting attorney Jill Cristich made her final closing arguments in the case in court here. Sentencing is set for Feb. 28.
Despite a lack of DNA evidence, and although a weapon was never found, Romo and Scott were found guilty of attempted second-degree murder in the May 29 attack of 24-year-old Antonio Meza.
Meza testified during the two-week trial that he was walking to his teenage girlfriend’s home when a group of young men, who prosecutor Jill Cristich said was led by Romo, ran up to him and attacked him. Meza suffered five stab wounds as a result.
Romo and Scott could face nine-year prison terms, which is the maximum the defendants could be sentenced to in the case, said defense attorney Steve Honse, who represented Scott.
Defense attorney John Breeze represented Romo but was not immediately available for comment at press time.
Separately, Romo faces prosecution in the Jan. 15, 2011, killing of El Centro resident Anthony McGee.
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at spanta@ivpressonline.com 760-337-3442.
The jurors reached their guilty verdict against defendants Javier Romo and Luis Scott a day after prosecuting attorney Jill Cristich made her final closing arguments in the case in court here. Sentencing is set for Feb. 28.
Despite a lack of DNA evidence, and although a weapon was never found, Romo and Scott were found guilty of attempted second-degree murder in the May 29 attack of 24-year-old Antonio Meza.
Meza testified during the two-week trial that he was walking to his teenage girlfriend’s home when a group of young men, who prosecutor Jill Cristich said was led by Romo, ran up to him and attacked him. Meza suffered five stab wounds as a result.
Romo and Scott could face nine-year prison terms, which is the maximum the defendants could be sentenced to in the case, said defense attorney Steve Honse, who represented Scott.
Defense attorney John Breeze represented Romo but was not immediately available for comment at press time.
Separately, Romo faces prosecution in the Jan. 15, 2011, killing of El Centro resident Anthony McGee.
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at spanta@ivpressonline.com 760-337-3442.
