Judge refuses to remove death sentence of man who killed 2 girlfriends

A judge refused today to remove the death sentence for a man who was convicted of killing his girlfriend, then killing another girlfriend for refusing to help him cover up the first murder.

Santiago Martinez Jr., 28, was convicted last year of stabbing companion Myra Orozco, 24, to death in 2003. The alleged gang member was convicted in 2005 of murdering another girlfriend, Christina Wilkerson, 28, less than two weeks before the first killing.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Joan Comparet-Cassani emphatically denied reducing Martinez’s sentence to life in prison without parole, calling him “coldblooded.”

“The defendant was and is acting as a savage beast,” she said in court. “He is the face of evil.”

Martinez, sporting black thick-rimmed eyeglasses and a cleanly shaved head, stared straight ahead as the judge announced her decision. On his way out of the courtroom, he turned to those in attendance – none of whom appeared to be there for him – and sighed as he was led out.

“The word ‘predator’ is overused in these settings, but this guy really fits the bill,” said Deputy L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steven Schreiner.

Martinez allegedly stabbed Wilkerson multiple times in the face and neck before shooting her, a crime motivated by jealousy, authorities said. Less than two weeks later, he attempted to convince another girlfriend, Orozco, to help him get rid of the first girlfriend’s body.

When she refused, he allegedly stabbed the woman repeatedly before running her over with his car. A probation report reviewed by the judge Tuesday listed Martinez, of Long Beach, as a self-admitted crack cocaine user since the age of 11.

The defense, looking to avoid a death sentence, argued that Martinez is mentally retarded and suffered damage from a mother who drank alcohol while he was in the womb. The judge dismissed the claims, calling Martinez “cunning” and able. She described Martinez as violent since a young age, pointing to an alleged attempted armed robbery at the age of 11 and years of gang activity.

The jury in the second murder case deadlocked during sentencing, with one juror holding out against the death penalty, prompting prosecutors to redo the penalty phase. A second jury came back quickly with a death sentence. Martinez is set to be executed at San Quentin State Prison.

-- Robert Faturechi

Comments

[A.W.]

If a murder happened two weeks BEFORE the "first" killing - wouldn't the one that happened two weeks ago be the first one? Or did I read something wrong?

Either way, a sad situation for all involved. It's horrible to hear of people treating others in such a deplorable way.

[Tornadoes28]

Good for the judge.

[Tornadoes28]

It's too bad these losers don't decide to just kill themselves first rather than taking other peoples lives. What a coward.

[Bobby]

Thank goodness for judges like Judge Joan. Why in the world do lawyers plead not responsible for murderous creeps such as this vermin!

[frank]

“The word ‘predator’ is overused in these settings, but this guy really fits the bill,” - Then label him as a Demon, cause only a demon's mindset is to destroy human life. This is what every murder, rapist, pedofile and terrorist are, THE DEVIL'S DEMONS (and they ournumber us).

[Tony]

Good job Judge. Even waiting 1 more day to execute him is to long. But of course we can't EXECUTE scum like this in Calif because lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. Yea right. Fine, kill him the same way he killed his girl friends.

[Luis C]

This is exactly why capital punishment works 100% of the time, this lowlife will NEVER, EVER do this to another human being AFTER he receives his punishment in full. If he has been a crackhead, then he is going to love this last rush.

[Crazy Horse]

Lots of people here clearly know nothing about criminal procedure.

[Tara]

it makes me sick to know that this evil man will cost the state over $100K a year on death row. make it quick.

[Tara]

stabbed her repeatedly in the face???!! was jealous. okay, time to connect the dots between cultures that oppress women, seeing them as little more than personal property, and crimes such as these that have so much hatred of women in them.

[Rick]

He will probably die from old age or something else before he is ever get's the death sentence. The death sentence in California is an absolute joke. He sit in a cell at tax payer's expense for the next 15 to 20 years.

[RabidinL.A.]

Criminal procedure = criminal coddling. We need new harsher laws, especially pertaining to the death sentence. No appeals, period. With all the forensic technology available, especially DNA, there is little room for error, not like before. All gang members should be executed - either on the streets or by the state. Thank you Judge Joan Comparet-Cassani for not coddling this criminal!
Now execute this offal before more criminal procedure keeps him alive for another decade. We need more judges like this. They can have speedy trials, they can have speedy execution. Just do it.

[sailbyme]

mexicans having kids with no way to raise them or educate them. Just for the sake of having kids. Deport all mexicans and their anchor babies.

[Jazz]

Too bad he didn't do it in Virginia. He would be sentenced to death in November and be executed by March. Now that's how it's supposed to be done.

[Dave]

To A. W.
Yes, you did read something wrong. I had to go back and read it a second time. What happened was Martinez murdered Ms. Wlkerson first then when Ms. Orozco refused to help him cover up the murder of Ms. Wilkerson he murder Ms. Orozco.

What the heck is going on here? The author says Martinez "allegedly" stabbed Wilkerson multiple times in the face. There is no "allegedly" anymore. Martinez was found guilty in court. That means he did it! No more question of guilt or innocence. Political correctness is out of control when a reporter feels he or she cannot report the facts.