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Defense: Triad behind businessman’s murder
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Posted on Mar 27 2001
The defense panel persistently floated yesterday the possibility that a Chinese gang could be the perpetrator behind the murder of Chinese businessman Zhou Rong at the Yellow House Massage Parlor last March 2000.
But detective Mark Taisacan confirmed eyewitness testimonies that it was a local man that entered the establishment, based on earlier interviews with two Chinese ladies who were within the premises at the time of the murder.
Government prosecutors disagreed with the theory presented by the defense team, citing in a sarcastic tone that the crime committed against the Chinese entrepreneur was possibly gang-related as it was the handiwork of green men from Mars.
Defendant Jeffrey T. Deleon Guerrero’s counsel Joseph Horey grilled Mr. Taisacan with regard to the line of questioning the case agent had used in obtaining statements from the two witnesses before the start of the trial.
Mr. Taisacan was also asked by the prosecution and defense panels to describe in detail the scene he came upon last March 2000, when Mr. Rong’s body was found lifeless.
The defense team also began presenting their own string of witnesses to the court stand, which included individuals that attested to the defendant’s presence elsewhere than the murder scene that fateful night.
Mr. Horey attempted to establish that Mr. Deleon Guerrero was driving around the block selling metamphetamine or “ice” at the time the murder was being committed.
The defense earlier contended that the government has pointed its finger on the wrong individual, citing the line up of suspects as presented to witnesses was unfairly and suggestively done.
The team added the prosecution lacks concrete evidence such as fingerprints, blood samples, or footprints to prove it was Mr. Deleon Guerrero that killed Mr. Rong.
The defendant facing trial is only one of two suspects wanted for the murder of the Chinese businessman.
Mr. Deleon Guerrero is charged before the Superior Court of four counts of offenses ranging from first degree murder, second degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery, and burglary.
