Baby-killer Jose Maurice Castenada's trial starts; may face death penalty

**coffee achiever** · May 28th, 2009, 09:41 AM

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stori...&zIndex=106774

NORTH COUNTY COURTS — The trial of a Guatemalan man accused of torturing and killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old son [in 2005] began yesterday in Vista Superior Court.

If convicted, Jose Maurice Castenada, 24, could face the death penalty.

...

Weismantel said Castenada fatally beat the boy in front of Razo and her then-5-year-old daughter. “This child was beaten, kicked, bitten, strangled and whipped at the hands of the defendant,” the prosecutor said.

Weismantel said the family's roommates heard Razo and her daughter crying. When they caught a glimpse of Cesar, they asked if they should call 911, and Castenada told them no, the prosecutor said.

Castenada and Razo eventually took the boy to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido after unsuccessfully trying to revive him, telling the hospital staff that he had fallen from a swing, Weismantel said.

She said staff members were shocked by what they saw, adding: “They had never seen a boy so badly beaten. It brought tears to their eyes.”

Doctors found more than 200 bruises on the child, leading authorities to arrest the couple. An autopsy determined that the toddler had suffered two fatal blows: one that severely injured his internal organs and a second that broke the back of his skull.

I'm REALLY rooting for the death penalty on this one.

Mom has already been convicted of felony child abuse and is serving a 16 year sentence.

More history on this case:

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005..._396_29_05.txt

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont...1mi18razo.html

http://www.10news.com/news/6180844/detail.html

http://www.10news.com/news/9957945/detail.html

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/n...-bn08razo.html

**AussieMum** · May 28th, 2009, 09:49 AM

oh dear lord, this makes me want to be sick!!!

How do people watch this? How do you only take your child to hospital when you can't revive him yourself?? How can you??

And the poor little 5 year old that had to watch her brother beaten to death!!!!!

**Silvahalo** · May 28th, 2009, 01:31 PM

He's from Guatemala. Guatemala has a deep seeded history with violence to humanity. I think it is no coincidence that he be so violent and come from there. The violence is ramped as is the anguish it leaves behind.

Dr. Norman Sperber, a forensic dentist, testified that Cesar had a bite mark on each cheek. Using dental impressions taken from the couple, Sperber testified that one of the bite marks was possibly inflicted by Castenada but that neither matched Razo's teeth.
{...}
Attridge noted that Razo also suffered a bite mark to her left breast and asked Sperber to perform an analysis on that mark to see if it matched Castenada's bite. Sperber said he planned to perform such an analysis.

When more bruises appeared at a later date, Razo told Santos "that his skin was fragile, just by merely touching him, it would leave a mark," she testified.

The toddler appeared to be sad and losing weight before he died, Santos said.

This poor baby...he was already dying slowly. He wasn't being properly protected by his mother as it appears she was beaten too. I know she was likely fearful and unsure how to handle this fuckers rage. Opening the door and leaving would have made the difference between life and death. I would never want to be in a place like this mother, but I know, I would never allow someone to beat on my baby. I'd leave or I'd kill him. To each their own misery and death. I hope they meet death as their useless, pathetic lives are jolted from them.

That 5 year old is never going to be the same. I hope she is in a loving home to heal.

Rest in peace baby Ceasar. You sweet one, deserved to be loved and protected at all costs. Kisses sweet one...no more sadness little angel.

**Cassandra** · May 28th, 2009, 08:30 PM

Bastard deserves to die. I want to shoot him myself.

**jenthgr8** · May 28th, 2009, 08:39 PM

The toddler appeared to be sad and losing weight before he died, Santos said.

Well no shit he was sad. He was being beaten.

I am praying for the death penalty on this one.

**jo_momma_82** · May 30th, 2009, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by Cassandra

I bet if he was white the DP wouldn't be on the table.

Are you fucking kidding me ??? Are you REALLY gonna' make this about race Cassandra ? D'D hosts several examples of white child murderers/torturers getting the DP ! Regardless of his race... I would've expected nothing less than the DP !

Did you read this comment ?...

“They had never seen a boy so badly beaten. It brought tears to their eyes.”

or this one ?....

“This child was beaten, kicked, bitten, strangled and whipped at the hands of the defendant,”

What about this one ?....

Doctors found more than 200 bruises on the child, leading authorities to arrest the couple. An autopsy determined that the toddler had suffered two fatal blows: one that severely injured his internal organs and a second that broke the back of his skull.

I'm sorry honey but, that is the lamest comment I've read here lately.

**Unamused Cat** · May 30th, 2009, 12:50 AM

The DP works for me on this case.

**Cassandra** · May 30th, 2009, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by jo_momma_82

Are you fucking kidding me ??? Are you REALLY gonna' make this about race Cassandra ? D'D hosts several examples of white child murderers/torturers getting the DP ! Regardless of his race... I would've expected nothing less than the DP !

Did you read this comment ?...

or this one ?....

What about this one ?....

I'm sorry honey but, that is the lamest comment I've read here lately.

And did you read this one?

He does deserve it regardless.

**penelopejo** · May 30th, 2009, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Cassandra

And did you read this one?

I guess jo got to you since you edited your comment.

Although, I think the DP would be on the table for anyone if possible. But sometimes, it's hard to prove that it is a DP worthy case. In this case, it wasn't hard to prove.

**theskyisfalling** · May 30th, 2009, 03:06 PM

Wow. Just wow.
Cassandra in this forum when you say something as tard like as that you'd better have something to back it up.
It's hillarious that you would actually just retract what was said without giving a legitimate reason for why it was said.
Nut up or shut up.

**theskyisfalling** · May 30th, 2009, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Cassandra

I bet if he was white the DP wouldn't be on the table.

He does deserve it regardless.

Huh?

**Dakota Valkyrie** · July 1st, 2009, 08:50 AM

A Guatemalan man accused of torturing and killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old son in 2005 was found guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder and other felony charges.

Jose Maurice Castenada, 24, was also convicted of torture, felony child abuse and assault on a child in a manner likely to cause great bodily injury in connection with the death of Cesar Razo.

The Superior Court jury also found Castenada guilty of a misdemeanor child abuse charge involving Cesar's then-5-year-old sister and acquitted him of a second torture charge.

Because this is a capital case, the jury was dismissed for the rest of the afternoon and asked to return to the Vista courthouse Wednesday for the second part of the trial, called the penalty phase.
[...]

Razo pleaded guilty in June 2007 to charges of voluntary manslaughter and child abuse and agreed to testify at Castenada's trial. In exchange for her guilty plea, prosecutors dropped a torture charge.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stori...&zIndex=124863

Razo received a sentence of 16 years 8 months in prison.

On June 25, he beat (Cesar), he punched him, he strangled him, he slammed him against a wall, Ms. Razo testified...

....bruising and red marks on nearly his entire body, with multiple bruises on his head and large bruises and welts covering his torso. There also were what appeared to be long, thin welts on his genitalia...

...made her brother live in a closet, habitually beat him with hangers, cords and belts and punched him until he threw up.

...a video made by Castenada eight days before Cesar’s death. In the video, the naked boy points out numerous welts and bruises on his body.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009...e0005c8cb7.txt

He also had bite marks on both cheeks.

Little question in my mind that he's a sadistic sick waste-of-space and deserves the DP.

**proudmom** · July 2nd, 2009, 10:29 AM

I wish i had not clicked on the spoiler button

**biteme** · July 2nd, 2009, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Cassandra
I bet if he was white the DP wouldn't be on the table.

you're fucking dumber than the fucking stupid tard mother and piece of shit penis killer
You related to them? is it a gene thing?

**Dakota Valkyrie** · July 7th, 2009, 09:52 AM

A jury was unable to reach a decision Monday as to whether a man convicted of torturing and killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old son should receive the death penalty.

The panel voted 9 to 3 in favor of sending Jose Maurice Castenada to prison for life without the possibility of parole. Because the jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision, a judge declared a mistrial.

Vista Superior Court Judge Joan P. Weber ordered the attorneys and the defendant to return to court July 30 to determine how the penalty phase of the case will proceed.
[...]

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stori...&zIndex=127647

They couldn't decide if a person who TORTURES and KILLS a child should get the death penalty? It's not like he's merely accused, he's been convicted. What would they need him to do? Rape the kid, too???

Maybe they want to keep him alive for the other inmates to torture?

**DarkPrincess** · July 7th, 2009, 10:00 AM

I don't understand this at all.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · July 7th, 2009, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by DarkPrincess

I don't understand this at all.

Join the club. Guess we "had to be there" applies. I would like to have been there... in the jury box. Better yet, been there when the crime was happening.

**biteme** · July 7th, 2009, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Dakota Valkyrie

Join the club. Guess we "had to be there" applies. I would like to have been there... in the jury box. Better yet, been there when the crime was happening.

I'm with you, would love to have been there at the time.