California Man Charged With Killing Gay College Student Takes the Stand
A California man accused of killing a gay college student took the stand in his own defense on Tuesday, saying he acted in self-defense. The defendant, Daniel Garcia, is facing charges of murder and hate crime in the death of 24-year-old Jonathan David Paredes. Prosecutors allege that Garcia, who is white, attacked Paredes, who was Hispanic, because of his sexual orientation. Paredes was found dead in a park in 2021 with multiple stab wounds. During his testimony, Garcia claimed that he was defending himself after Paredes allegedly attacked him with a knife. He also stated that he did not know Paredes and had never seen him before. However, prosecutors presented evidence that Garcia had been seen with Paredes shortly before his death. They also argued that Garcia had a history of making homophobic statements. The trial is ongoing and the jury is expected to begin deliberations later this week.
Summary
"The trial of Daniel Garcia for the murder of Jonathan David Paredes continues. Garcia has pleaded not guilty and claims self-defense, while prosecutors argue he acted out of hate. The jury is expected to begin deliberations soon."
Updated at: 06.20.2024
hate crime
murder trial
Categories
ABC News
