"OAKLAND Two men have agreed to serve 12-year prison terms for beating another man to death at a park in a broad daylight attack, court records show. Melvin Espinolobo, 24, and Alexander Garciaamaya, 29, both pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the May 10, 2020 killing of 28-year-old Jose Mejia-Lemus. They remain at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin with the expectation of being formally sentenced in December."
"Authorities say a little after 3 p.m., one of the two suspects argued with Mejia-Lemus, then retrieved two bats from a nearby homeless encampment where they lived. One of the suspects was seen with a machete, according to police testimony. An eyewitness testified at the 2022 preliminary hearing that Mejia-Lemus pleaded leave me alone as he was being killed, but that both men continued to hit him."
"Another witness testified that Mejia-Lemus claimed to have a knife, but others said he was unarmed, according to court records. The two men were arrested and charged shortly after the homicide and their case has been pending ever since. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors are dropping murder charges against both men, court records show. They remain at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin."
Melvin Espinolobo, 24, and Alexander Garciaamaya, 29, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and agreed to 12-year prison terms for the May 10, 2020 killing of 28-year-old Jose Mejia-Lemus. The fatal beating occurred in broad daylight at Josie de la Cruz Park at 1637 Fruitvale Ave shortly after 3 p.m., witnessed by passers-by. Authorities say one suspect argued with Mejia-Lemus, retrieved two bats from a nearby homeless encampment, and one suspect was seen with a machete. An eyewitness testified Mejia-Lemus pleaded "leave me alone" while being hit; other witnesses disputed whether he was armed. Prosecutors dropped murder charges as part of the plea agreement; the defendants remain in Santa Rita Jail pending formal sentencing in December.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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