Mize Trial, Day Five

Three witnesses including Carlos Diaz, the alleged driver for the four people accused of killing 16-year-old Lorenzo Carachure in 2007, took the stand on the fifth day of the murder trial, Wednesday, June 2. Defendants Ruben Mize, Ricardo Nava, Bryan Medinilla and Raul Diaz all face murder and attempted murder charges. Prosecutors allege that Raul Diaz used a carjack to hit Carachure in the head, and then Medinilla and Mize stabbed him — causing his death. It is also alleged Nava had a knife.

The much-anticipated testimony of Diaz began with a reminder to him from prosecutor Hans Almgren that a plea deal they worked out is contingent upon honesty and full disclosure in court. Diaz, who is pleading to accessory to murder with a gang enhancement, said that unlike his brother, Eastside gang member George Diaz, he was never a gangster, and talked about his non-gang-involved group of friends who were fans of cycling, Metallica, and would be best described as “punksters.”

Diaz explained to the court that the only reason he was connected to the alleged gang-related murder of Carachure is that he was trying to do a favor for his sister, Lucero Uribe, by giving her friends a ride. Diaz testified that on the night of July 16, 2007, he was headed to his girlfriend’s house after picking up cocaine from a friend’s apartment when he saw his sister among a group of about 10 youths outside the already-closed Pennywise Market, and slowed to a stop to speak with her. He rolled down his window and briefly exchanged words with Uribe, who asked him to give her friends a ride — telling him that he would just be dropping them off and it would be very quick, said Diaz, who wanted to get to his girlfriend’s house and do cocaine, but agreed to drive since it would be fast.