rm1x
Ex-Bluelighter
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- Aug 23, 2003
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http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=180&xlc=1097250
By Ihosvani Rodriguez
San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted : 12/11/2003 12:00 AM
The little green man leaped from behind the ice cream in the freezer and taunted Raymond Rodriguez to chase him.
The next thing Rodriguez remembers, after blacking out, was waking up the following morning lying on top of his mother's lover and drinking partner, Daniel San Miguel, 77, whom he discovered was dead with a knife in his chest.
Rodriguez said as much Tuesday as he took the stand on his own behalf and handed a jury what arguably is one of the most bizarre testimonies in recent capital murder trials.
Prosecutors believe Rodriguez killed San Miguel in February 2001 to steal his pickup. Authorities are not seeking the death penalty against Rodriguez, but the 25-year-old will be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty.
Rodriguez testified Wednesday that he was forced to consume a letter-size sheet of LSD earlier on the evening San Miguel died and was having hallucinations by the time he got to his house, where his mother's lover was sleeping.
Rodriguez described watching the walls and floors moving violently and going to eat something to calm his hallucinations. When he opened the refrigerator, he noticed the bologna and cheese were dancing around. Then he opened the freezer door.
"I saw a green man when I moved the ice cream," Rodriguez testified, nodding affirmatively and looking sternly at the jury. "He looked cute. I wanted him. He had hands and feet and looked like a little man. He jumped out and said, 'Catch me if you can ... !'
"So I tried to catch him."
Moments later, Rodriguez claims, he blacked out as he stared into a mirror.
The next morning, Rodriguez said he was shocked to discover San Miguel's body beneath him. He said he used San Miguel's pickup to dispose of the body in a ditch near the San Antonio Police Academy to make it easier for authorities to find the body.
After days went by, Rodriguez moved the decomposing corpse again and tossed it on the side of the road near Poteet, where a motorist eventually found it.
Rodriguez denied earlier testimony that he admitted to several people that he killed San Miguel. Witnesses who have testified to an admission include friends and relatives, including his sister, who ultimately turned him in to police.
Rodriguez described San Miguel as a loving grandfather figure who would've given him the truck if he had asked for it.
Defense attorneys have suggested someone else in the house killed San Miguel and that Rodriguez was manipulated into believing he did it.
Testimony resumes today.
[email protected]
12/11/2003
By Ihosvani Rodriguez
San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted : 12/11/2003 12:00 AM
The little green man leaped from behind the ice cream in the freezer and taunted Raymond Rodriguez to chase him.
The next thing Rodriguez remembers, after blacking out, was waking up the following morning lying on top of his mother's lover and drinking partner, Daniel San Miguel, 77, whom he discovered was dead with a knife in his chest.
Rodriguez said as much Tuesday as he took the stand on his own behalf and handed a jury what arguably is one of the most bizarre testimonies in recent capital murder trials.
Prosecutors believe Rodriguez killed San Miguel in February 2001 to steal his pickup. Authorities are not seeking the death penalty against Rodriguez, but the 25-year-old will be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty.
Rodriguez testified Wednesday that he was forced to consume a letter-size sheet of LSD earlier on the evening San Miguel died and was having hallucinations by the time he got to his house, where his mother's lover was sleeping.
Rodriguez described watching the walls and floors moving violently and going to eat something to calm his hallucinations. When he opened the refrigerator, he noticed the bologna and cheese were dancing around. Then he opened the freezer door.
"I saw a green man when I moved the ice cream," Rodriguez testified, nodding affirmatively and looking sternly at the jury. "He looked cute. I wanted him. He had hands and feet and looked like a little man. He jumped out and said, 'Catch me if you can ... !'
"So I tried to catch him."
Moments later, Rodriguez claims, he blacked out as he stared into a mirror.
The next morning, Rodriguez said he was shocked to discover San Miguel's body beneath him. He said he used San Miguel's pickup to dispose of the body in a ditch near the San Antonio Police Academy to make it easier for authorities to find the body.
After days went by, Rodriguez moved the decomposing corpse again and tossed it on the side of the road near Poteet, where a motorist eventually found it.
Rodriguez denied earlier testimony that he admitted to several people that he killed San Miguel. Witnesses who have testified to an admission include friends and relatives, including his sister, who ultimately turned him in to police.
Rodriguez described San Miguel as a loving grandfather figure who would've given him the truck if he had asked for it.
Defense attorneys have suggested someone else in the house killed San Miguel and that Rodriguez was manipulated into believing he did it.
Testimony resumes today.
[email protected]
12/11/2003
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
