Oakland County
Men who posed as DTE workers found guilty of murder
By Kara Berg and Max Reinhart, Medianews Group
Two males accused of posing like DTE vitality staff in a home in Rochester Hills, after which killing and robbing the resident as quickly as they have been admitted, have been discovered responsible on Friday.
Jury’s discovered Carlos Hernandez, 38, and Joshua Zuazo, 40, responsible of all three fees, together with one depend of homicide within the first diploma and two counts of unlawful jail, in response to on-line court docket stories.
The couple are confronted with life in jail for the homicide on October 2024 of the 72-year-old Pionwinkel proprietor Hussein “Sam” Murray. Provision is deliberate at 1 p.m. on December 9.
The boys have been tried collectively and their affairs have been heard by two separate juries within the Circuit Court docket of Oakland County.
Their trial began on Monday and public prosecutors ended their enterprise round midday Friday. Neither Zuazo nor Hernandez introduced witnesses.
Assistant -Officer of Justice of Oakland County, John Pietrofesa, mentioned that Zuazo and Hernandez used deception to get to Murray’s home to commit a Larceny, however finally killed Murray throughout a battle within the basement. He mentioned that jury members didn’t need to discover a premeditation, simply that the homicide was dedicated whereas committing against the law.
Zuazo’s lawyer, Michael McCarthy, mentioned that there was no proof with out cheap doubt that Zuazo was the person within the ring digital camera photos outdoors of Murray’s home with Hernandez.
The one individuals who recognized Zuazo have been his former supervisor, who, in response to McCarthy, has a ‘chip on his shoulder’, and the spouse of Murray, who was certain and left within the kitchen, reportedly plundered by Hernandez and Zuazo whereas they plundered the home. McCarthy mentioned there isn’t a proof that Zuazo connects with Murray’s blood.
The lawyer of Hernandez, Paulette Loftin, mentioned that Murray’s homicide was by no means a part of the plan, and Hernandez didn’t take part in Murray’s deadly go well with. Loftin didn’t deny that Hernandez was one of many two folks within the ring video outdoors the home of the Murray. She mentioned that public prosecutors haven’t confirmed their case with out cheap doubt, which is the usual for a conviction.
Loftin mentioned that Hernandez got here up from the basement, the place Murray was crushed earlier than Zuazo got here with blood on his shirt. Hernandez had no blood on his physique or clothes, Loftin mentioned, and his story corresponds to the report of Murray’s spouse.
However prosecutors mentioned whereas opening arguments that the crime of the duo was ‘targeted’ and ‘very nicely deliberate’.
Authorities mentioned that Hernandez and Zuazo arrived in a luxurious Rochester Hills district in a luxurious Rochester Hills district round 10 am, introduced themselves as DTE staff who checked out homes after a reported fuel leak.
Murray mentioned they needed to go away and Hernandez advised him they’d return the subsequent day. When the duo returned to the home on 11 October, they may discuss to their method in, mentioned public prosecutors. Murray led the lads to his basement, the place Hernandez and Zuazo mentioned they needed to examine a fuel connection. As an alternative, the authorities say, they brutally killed him.
When Hernandez and Zuazo returned, they requested Murray’s spouse, Linda, the place they may discover the property in the home, the authorities mentioned. When she noticed blood on Zuazo’s shirt, she screamed. Hernandez then hit her, pushed her in opposition to a wall and tied her with duct tape. The robbers then plundered the home and fled, mentioned regulation enforcement.
Murray was the proprietor of Glitter & Gold Jewellery Pawn Store in Hamtramck. The police mentioned they believe that Murray was the goal of his firm, and Pietrofesa mentioned that Hernandez had been to Murray’s pawnshop previous to the homicide.
Hernandez and Zuazo tried to let their processes be separated, however choose Yasmine Poland of Oakland County Circuit Court docket denied their request in March. Their affairs have been heard on the similar time by two separate juries.
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