Mize Trial, Day Six

Noe Carachure, cousin of Lorenzo Carachure took the stand Thursday to talk about what happened on the night that Lorenzo was allegedly killed by Eastsiders. On trial for the murder of Lorenzo Carachure are Ruben Mize, Bryan Medinilla, Raul Diaz, and Ricardo Nava. During the incident that occurred in 2007, Lorenzo was with his friend and his cousin – who is now giving testimony outlining what he saw happen on the night of his cousin’s death.

Now 22 years old, Noe is doing time for the three DUI’s on his record, but stated that he is no longer in a gang. He testified that at the time of his cousin’s death, he, Lorenzo, and their friend Rogelio Hernandez were Westside gang members — all three had been jumped into the gang within the eight months prior to the death of Lorenzo.

On the day of the incident, Lorenzo said that he had a “weird feeling,” said Noe, and described it as being like fear. The cousins had spent the day of July 16, 2007, together, and that night they walked to pick up Hernandez from his dishwashing job, Noe told the court, explaining that this was not an uncommon thing for them to do. “We always wanted to be together, the three of us,” Noe said of himself, Lorenzo, and Hernandez, telling the court that the three would always look out for each other, and agreeing with Almgren that there was strength in numbers.

The boys were only three houses down from their home when, allegedly, a group of Eastsiders approached them. Noe said that a red or burgundy SUV-type vehicle (others have said it was a red pickup truck) drove past them and stopped at the bus stop. Out of the car emerged seven or eight people who came toward them, throwing Eastside gang signs. The two cousins and Hernandez threw Westside gang signs in retaliation and said “Westside,” while backing up — all three unarmed, alleged Noe.

Noe said he looked around for a bottle or stick to use as a weapon, but never found one because the attackers came at him. In response to an Eastsider’s threat to stab him, Noe said that he replied, “Let’s go.” The gangster had a knife, about five-inches long, one-inch wide, and was shiny with a black handle, said Noe, and stated that many of the people had knives. Noe alleged that he dodged three or four swings taken at him with a knife before he was stabbed in the chest — an injury that he didn’t actually feel or know about until later on. His injuries were severe and he spent three days in the hospital.

As the fight was ongoing, he saw his cousin Lorenzo falling and heard a bang when he hit the ground, said Noe, who told the court he was only about two feet away and tried to help his cousin. He testified that four people had been attacking him, stabbing him, before being hit over the head with something that felt like a bottle or bat, but he saw three boys with knives came at Noe. When asked about the knives and identities or appearances of the people attacking Lorenzo, Noe explained that when it was happening, all he could think of or pay attention to was Lorenzo — all he saw was the flashing of knives, and his cousin being stabbed in the neck and stomach. “I just saw him fighting for his life and there was nothing I could do,” he said solemnly. In response to a question about how long Lorenzo was being stabbed for, Noe told the court, “Forever in my mind, I think. But probably a few seconds.”

Noe said that an attacker standing about a foot away from his cousin threw a bike on Lorenzo before they left, at which point Noe hurried to move the bike that covered his cousin’s body head to toe. Noe testified that he did not see where Hernandez had gone or where the Eastsiders went. Removing his shirt, he wrapped it around Lorenzo’s neck and tried to stop the bleeding. As he held his cousin, who was choking on his own blood, and telling him to “hold on” and “hang on,” a car of Eastsiders allegedly drove by throwing gang signs and called out “weaksiders.”

Noe was asked multiple times if he saw any of the suspects in the room — but he repeatedly denied that he could remember what the people looked like the night of Lorenzo’s death. “I don’t remember their faces,” he said, later explaining, “If I would’ve known who did it, I would’ve retaliated.”

The testimony of Noe Carachure is scheduled to resume Monday morning.