Eddie Barela,86-year-old admits murder

[Whisper]

An elderly man admitted Thursday that he shot and killed a neighbor during a Fourth of July barbecue in 2008.

Eddie Barela, 86, initially pleaded not guilty during a court appearance in a month after the shooting. On Thursday he changed that plea to guilty of second-degree murder.

Barela fatally shot Larry Miller at a Fourth of July barbecue at their Albuquerque apartment complex. A woman also was wounded in the leg.

The complex at Central Avenue and Graceland Drive NE was described at the time as providing assisted-living residences mostly for low-income people with mental disabilities.

Barela said he shot Miller, 57, because he and the apartment manager were abusing him.

Police said about two dozen people were attending the afternoon barbecue when Barela began yelling and then fired as many as 10 pistol shots. He then fled to an alley where he reportedly fired one shot at police before surrendering.

A sentencing date for Barela has not been set.

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/8...-admits-murder

[donegaveup]

Darn Whisp, I thought this was going to be a deathbed confession. Oh well. Wonder what sentence this guy will get?

[Whisper]

Darn Whisp, I thought this was going to be a deathbed confession. Oh well. Wonder what sentence this guy will get?

LOL you know what I did too when I first came across it lastnight,,,,

[Whisper]

Elderly murderer still angry at victim
86-year-old sentenced to 16 years
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An 86-year-old man who went on a deadly shooting spree at a Fourth of July barbeque was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Wednesday.

But Eddie Barela kept speaking his mind and the sentencing judge was not amused.

"Mr. Barela, you may speak in just a moment," Judge Albert Murdoch said to Barela as he attempted to interrupt arguments from the prosecutor. "You will listen until I call upon you. Do you understand?"

Barela continued to attempt to defend himself, even though he already pleaded guilty to second-degree murder two months ago.
[...]
When Murdoch allowed Barela to speak at sentencing on Wednesday, it was clear that he remains angry that no one, including police, listened to him.

"I showed them all the stuff they had done to me," Barela told the judge. "Him (Milar) ripping me off, evidence of him searching the furniture, the drawers, looking for cash and documents."
[...]
Murdoch interrupted Barela during his statement and pointedly asked him several times if he felt Milar deserved to die.

After a long pause, Barela finally said "probably not."
[...]

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/e...ngry-at-victim