After deliberating for a few brief hours, a jury on Thursday morning found Luis Gutierrez guilty of first-degree murder and torture.
Gutierrez, now convicted of stabbing Ronnie Goodman, Jr. 39 times in 2014, appeared outwardly unmoved by the verdict that may put him in prison for life. Members of Goodman’s family in the audience hugged each other and silently wiped away tears.
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Brendan Conroy had warned the court that there was to be “no display of any emotion on either side” before the jury returned from its deliberations, and threatened to remove those who disobeyed, in contempt of the court.
Outside Department 25, Goodman’s mother, Sherry Baltodano, said she can breathe now that the verdict was in, seven and a half years after the incident.
“I just gave all the praises to God,” Baltodano said with tears in her eyes, as she clutched a bouquet of roses. “I’m just so emotional and overwhelmed just trying to process this now, but justice was served.”
“These cases are difficult for everyone involved. I am grateful for the hard work by the jury and the verdict they delivered. I am hopeful it helps bring closure for the victim’s family,” said Assistant District Attorney Sean Connolly.
Public defender Alex Lilien said the case and its outcome were “tragic all around,” and said he was concerned with the speed at which the jury convicted his client.
“We’re disappointed,” Lilien said. “I think that there was a lot of evidence showing that Luis was in the early stages of a psychotic disorder and genuinely believed that he was in danger.”
Lilien said he had hoped the jury would see that Gutierrez believed he needed to defend himself, regardless of whether that was reasonable, and find him not guilty of first-degree murder.
In his closing arguments, Lilien yesterday outlined factors, including symptoms of mental illness, that made Gutierrez believe he needed to act in self-defense against Goodman.
Connolly, meanwhile, argued that Gutierrez was fully aware of his actions, and called the killing a premeditated murder.
On the night of the incident, Sept. 9, 2014, a 21-year-old Gutierrez was exiting a bus at 23rd and Mission Streets when he got into a dispute with 20-year-old Goodman and a friend. After getting away from the pair, Gutierrez testified that he went home and got his older brother, who armed himself with a Taser, before the two went back out to find Goodman.
After an altercation at 24th and Capp streets, multiple witnesses saw the Gutierrez brothers stabbing and Tasing Goodman until he was lifeless on the ground.
After the verdict was read, the judge thanked the jury for its service despite multiple roadblocks during the trial, including the loss of alternate jurors, appointments and a Covid-19 exposure that affected the trial’s scheduling.
Gutierrez will appear in court again on May 2 to set a date for sentencing. His brother, Javier, was sentenced this morning to eight years in state prison for involuntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon, as part of a plea deal with the District Attorney’s office. He has already served seven and a half years.
I never saw an update on Luis’ sentencing. Does anybody know if he was ever sentenced and how many years he got?
Lilien you must be sick in your head. If you don’t see what this evil man did then you need to sit beside him and rot in prison with him. This is Ronnie Goodman sister so now what was said?????.
Yo, he was the public defender doing his job. The right outcome occurred. Everyone deserves representation despite how obviously guilty someone is.
Amen!!
Nevermind what the jury thinks, did they really do it? Is there concrete evidence? The self defense is obviously BS. But I hope they don’t have the wrong guys.
Lilien said he had hoped the jury would see that Gutierrez believed he needed to defend himself — regardless of whether that was reasonable — and find him not guilty of first-degree murder.
IANAL but I see reasonable is a major component of the jury instructions;
California Criminal Jury Instructions (CALCRIM 2017)
CA 505. Justifiable Homicide: Self-Defense or Defense of Another
The defendant is not guilty of (murder/manslaughter) if he was justified in killing someone in self-defense. The defendant acted in lawful self-defense if:
1. The defendant reasonably believed that he was in imminent danger of being killed or suffering great bodily injury;
2. The defendant reasonably believed that the immediate use of deadly force was necessary to defend against that danger;
AND
3. The defendant used no more force than was reasonably necessary to defend against that danger.
So you mean to tell me that this guy is getting out with a murder sentence by the time the trial finishes? What a farce. It should have been much longer-term, and this trial should have not taken so long!
This is Ronnie Goodman,
Mother, 100% agreed!
Despite Covid, justice is swift in SF. Only eight years to get to trial. What a disgrace.
Poor family
This is the mother of Ronnie
Goodman, yes! This is the justice system in San Francisco, they truly age my
Sons murder trial..
I knew Ronnie since we were 3 and Luis and Javier since middle school. I used to let Luis stay at my house all the time and Javier used to be one of my art mentors, our friend group was so tight it felt like someone kicked me in my stomach 8 years ago when this all came out. Luis did this to himself with all the acid and risky behavior. He took away our friend and knew full well what he was doing at the time, you don’t go back and stab someone after they’re already lifeless. Shame on anyone for saying he thought he was in danger. Mental illness isn’t your fault, but it’s your responsibility and I can’t believe Javier just stood there and watched it happen. He deserves way more than 8 years and I hope ultimately they pay the price for taking him away from us too soon. I wish I had never met either of them and only feel bad for their mother and other brother who were actually good people. Heart goes out to the Goodman family and hope this helps at least a little with their healing.