Plutarco Ernesto Gonzalez, the convicted murderer of noted humorist and songwriter Milton Pelaez, lost his appeal as the judges confirmed Gonzalez’s 14-year sentence for homicide. The court also confirmed the RD$4.0 million payment due to the Pelaez family. While lawyers for the Pelaez family argued for a 20-year sentence because the evidence indicated premeditated homicide, the court, comprised of magistrates Miriam German Brito, Manuel Hernandez and Francisco Ortega, decided to confirm the lower court’s decision of 14 years. While rejecting the arguments of the defendant’s lawyers, the court accepted the ballistic evidence that the killing was no accident since “ballistics confirmed that the shot that killed (Pelaez) was from very close range since the victim’s skin contained powder.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Plutarco Ernesto Gonzalez, the convicted murderer of noted humorist and songwriter Milton Pelaez, lost his appeal as the judges confirmed Gonzalez’s 14-year sentence for homicide. The court also confirmed the RD$4.0 million payment due to the Pelaez family. While lawyers for the Pelaez family argued for a 20-year sentence because the evidence indicated premeditated homicide, … <\/p>\n