Jury Selection To Wrap Up In Gables High Stabbing Trial
MIAMI (CBS4) – Jury selection is expected to wrap up Wednesday in the trial of a Coral Gables High School student accused of stabbing a classmate to death. Opening statements could begin Thursday.
Andy Rodriguez, 18, is charged with second degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Juan Carlos Rivera, who was stabbed to death in the courtyard of Coral Gables High School in September 2009.
Security video captured Rodriguez and Rivera fighting in the crowded school's courtyard during a break between classes. Off camera, Rivera was stabbed five times; the fatal wound punctured his heart.
Rodriguez ran away and security video shows him with his shirt pulled up covering his face.
In a statement to police, Rodriguez said he acted in self-defense and defense attorney Alexander Michaels plans to argue that in court.
"He acted in self-defense. He acted without any kind of bad intent or evil mind. He just reacted to an attack," Michaels told reporters outside the courtroom.
Classmates have said Rodriguez was angry that Rivera had accepted rides to school from Rodriguez's girlfriend.
In his confession, police said, Rodriguez denied having fought with Rivera because of jealousy. He told detectives he and Rivera shoved against each other as they passed in the school yard, a scuffle ensued, and he stabbed Rivera in self defense.
He told investigators he did not even know Rivera's name.
The trial is expected to last about two weeks. Rodriguez faces life in prison if convicted.
