Emotions were high outside the Supreme Court late this evening when a jury convicted Francis "Chino" Eiley, Ernest Savery, and Lenton Polonio of murder. The jury deliberated for just over 5 hours before finding all three guilty of the shocking November 1st 2002 murder of 67-year-old San Pedro resident Jairu Perez who was beaten to death with a crowbar in his house.
In the trial which lasted about a month, the prosecution's star witness was Frank Vasquez. That's notable because Vasquez was found at the scene of the crime, however he testified for the prosecution. In summing up the case to the jury earlier this week presiding Judge Troadio Gonzalez warned the jury that Vasquez was a witness who had an interest to serve since he was possibly an accomplice to the crime. Nevertheless the three were pronounced guilty shortly after 5 this evening.
Just one station, 7NEWS, was at the Supreme Court as tempers flared as the three walked down the steps as convicted murderers. As they made their way down their step an emotional and angry Eric Savery, who is the brother of the convicted Ernest Savery, assaulted our cameraman Lewis Munoz and demanded he cut off the camera. He didn't and kept rolling. Eric Savery was quickly restrained by police and he left the scene. Much calmer though equally emotional was Susanna Eiley the mother of Francis Eiley who told us the verdict was an injustice and vowed to appeal.
Susanna Eiley, Convicted Murderer’s Mother
“Its not my son. My son wasn’t even in San Pedro on the 29th. This is drugs money that’s involved and that money that went to thief is their uncle and drugs money. This is just an injustice that they are doing.”
“We are going to appeal.”
“We came here prepared for whatever because this is money pay and those people have big drugs money and they don’t care. But there is a God above and all of them are big dealers and this is a set up by the police.”
Justice Troadio Gonzalez will sentence all three on September 17th.