Jury deliberates fate of businessman accused of Miami murder-for-hire plot involving MMA fighters, Latin King member

MIAMI – After having to stare at ugly photographs for hours, the jury began to deliberate Wednesday afternoon on the destiny of Manuel Marin, a Cuban American businessman accused of a murder-for-hire plot concentrating on Camilo Salazar, a romantic rival.

Whereas Dr. Emma Lew, the Miami-Dade medical expert who carried out the sufferer’s post-mortem testified in courtroom on Wednesday, as a prosecutor confirmed ugly photographs of his bruised and partially burned physique.

“He had two cuts throughout the entrance of his neck,” Lew mentioned including the 43-year-old father from Coconut Grove had suffered bone fractures and burns in his genital space.

A poster-size picture of Salazar, 43, as detectives discovered him on June 1, 2011, in a desolated space alongside Okeechobee Highway, was on show on an easel whereas Assistant State Lawyer Justin Funck delivered his closing assertion.

“Manuel Marin is the match that lit the fireplace. Manuel Marin began putting that match on March 15. He set that fireside and let it burn. He let Camilo Salazar burn,” Funck mentioned referring to Marin’s first name to Isaac. “His ego, his pleasure, his machismo — that was the gasoline.”

Detectives recognized the trio who kidnapped and tortured Salazar earlier than killing him as Roberto Isaac, a Latin Kings gang member; and MMA fighters Alexis Vila Perdomo and Ariel Gandulla.

Salazar, a married inside designer from Coconut Grove, vanished after dropping off his child lady. Household and mates later discovered his empty automotive in a car parking zone simply exterior of his spouse’s workplace.

Funck cited mobile phone and SunPass data as “direct proof” of Marin’s involvement and his financial institution and property transfers earlier than Salazar’s homicide as proof that there was a premeditated plan.

Marin’s protection argued there was inadequate proof within the case.

Vila Perdomo, who was Marin’s good friend, “is the one who decides that he’s going to assist his good friend,” Lawyer Jose M. Quiñon mentioned throughout his closing assertion later saying, “The plan was to scare Salazar.”

Quiñon mentioned Isaac, who’s the “violent” gang member, was the one who determined to kill Salazar with out Marin’s information and he was the one who smelled like gasoline and never Marin, who he had described as a “peaceable” father.

The prosecution argued Marin was the one who “determined” Salazar needed to die and for the reason that plan was to kidnap him and kill him they held Salazar at Isaac’s home till Marin arrived.

“This killing is one thing that came about in a spot the place no one is aware of who actually killed Mr. Salazar,” Quiñon advised the jury.

Earlier than the closing statements and jury directions, Miami-Dade County Circuit Choose Miguel M. de la O later turned to Manuel Marin, the previous businessman who stands accused of devising the ugly murder-for-hire plot behind the demise

De La O requested Marin if he wished to testify although Quiñon, a former Assistant State Lawyer in Miami-Dade County who’s defending Marin, had suggested him to not. Marin mentioned he had determined to not testify.

Marin, a former Presidente Supermarkets accomplice, vanished on June 4, 2011, and he surrendered to authorities in 2018 at a U.S. embassy in Spain to face costs for the June 1, 2011 homicide.

In 2019, a jury discovered Isaac responsible of second-degree homicide and conspiracy to commit kidnapping and homicide, and Vila Perdomo responsible of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and homicide. A decide sentenced Isaac to life in jail and Vila Perdomo to fifteen years in jail.

As a part of a plea settlement, a decide sentenced Gandulla to 36 months in jail, which he served. The Florida Division of Corrections launched him on April 11, 2022. He testified within the instances of Isaac, Vila Perdomo, and most lately Marin.

Marin turned 69 in January whereas within the custody of Miami corrections. Information present he’s being held on the Metrowest Detention Middle. If the jury convicts him, Marin might face a most sentence of life in jail. The trial is scheduled to proceed on Wednesday morning.

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