A grieving stepfather attacked his stepdaughter’s killer during his sentencing hearing in California on Wednesday, landing a blow before officials broke up the courtroom fight.
Euren Balbuena, 33, was sentenced to 33 years to life in prison for the 2020 murder of his girlfriend, Zaira Patino-Trejo, 31, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced Thursday.
The Simi Valley killer had stabbed Patino-Trejo to death in front of her mother, Ariadna Avetisyan, who was also cut in the head.
Avetisyan was delivering an emotional victim impact statement, telling the court how the loss of Patino-Trejo affected her family’s life, when her husband lashed out at Balbuena.
The grieving man landed at least one punch before deputies separated them, the Ventura County Star reported.
Convicted murderer Euren Balbuena is being held in Ventura County Court after he was attacked by his victim’s stepfather during his sentencing on Wednesday. Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
A photo shared by the district attorney’s office shows a handcuffed and bewildered Balbuena being held by a judicial officer immediately after the attack.
The stepfather was thrown out of the courtroom. The impact statements continued about an hour later.
As of Thursday afternoon, county sheriff’s officials had not filed a case about the incident with the district attorney’s office, the outlet reported.
Balbuena was sentenced to 33 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend Zaira Patino Trejo in 2020. Zaira Patino Trejo
Balbuena was convicted in November of the first-degree murder of Patiño-Trejo, assault causing serious bodily injury, and assault with a deadly weapon against her mother.
The deadly fight broke out in February 2020 when Avetisyan showed up at the couple’s Simi Valley apartment after not hearing from his daughter.
Seeing signs of abuse on Patiño-Trejo’s face and knowing Balbuena’s history of domestic violence, the mother desperately tried to leave with her daughter.
Balbuena was convicted in November of the first-degree murder of Patiño-Trejo, assault causing serious bodily injury, and assault with a deadly weapon against her mother. Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
The killer blocked their path and slashed Avetisyan twice in the face before attacking his daughter.
He used several knives to stab Patiño-Trejo more than 30 times, although prosecutors argued the total was closer to 95.
After watching his daughter die, Avetisyan fled while bleeding profusely and called 911.
“Zaira Patiño-Trejo was such a vibrant young woman with a bright future,” Supervising Deputy District Attorney Melissa Suttner said in a statement.
“We cannot replace their unimaginable loss, but we seek justice for Zaira and her family. We hope this sentence brings a little relief to his family, knowing that Euren Balbuena was held accountable for his brutal murder.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn