A 16-year-old boy named Daniel Villegas confessed to a double murder in El Paso, Texas in 1993. Armando “Mando” Lazo and Robert England were shot dead at night in a park on Electric Avenue. Villegas and a group of friends were in the park when gunshots were heard. Villegas says his confession was coerced by the El Paso police. He says Detective Al Marquez violated his rights by “allegedly threatening and intimidating him.”
[John Mimbela Accused Of Bribing Witnesses To Free Daniel Villegas]
Villegas was tried in 1994 but a jury deadlocked on a verdict. In 1995, a jury found Villegas guilty and he was sentenced to life in prison. Now, 22 years later, with the help of his family, particularly his former sister-in-law Lucy and her new husband John Mimbela, Villegas will get a third trial. El Paso Times News reports that District Attorney Jaime Esparza is filing an appeal, which means the trial will likely be delayed for another year. Dateline NBC will broadcast its investigative report on the Villegas case on October 16, 9pm.
