Oct. 18, 2007

Mendez gets life, forgiveness for murder

LOGAN CARVER, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Ozell Craft's wife said vengeance belongs to the Lord.

She thanked God after a Lubbock County jury on Wednesday sentenced Saul
Mendez to life in prison for murdering her husband.

The jury gave Mendez, 29, the maximum sentence for stabbing Craft 60 times
in September 2006.

Witnesses described in gruesome detail the scene surrounding the slain
preacher. Craft, 46, was found next to a blood-drenched couch in a room
covered in blood spatter.

Lubbock County Assistant Criminal District Attorney Tray Payne said the
evidence in the case spoke for itself.

"I think it's really hard to get past DNA evidence," he said. "You have a
lot of excuses, but it's real hard to get around DNA."

Investigators testified Tuesday that a sock with Craft's blood on it was
found in a house where Mendez had lived. Also, detectives found a beer can
with Mendez's DNA on it in a trash can in Craft's house.

Mendez's attorney, Luke Jordan, declined comment.

In closing arguments, Jordan urged the jury to acquit Mendez because the
evidence only placed him at the scene and did not prove he stabbed Craft.

The jury found otherwise - convicting Mendez in less than an hour.

It took jurors longer to hand down the steepest sentence available, sending
Mendez to prison for life.

After Judge Brad Underwood read the sentence, Craft's sister and wife gave
statements.

Gladys Craft, Ozell Craft's sister, said Mendez took a very important part
out of the family's life, comparing it to a missing piece of a jigsaw
puzzle.

She said she forgives Mendez and that her life must proceed.

Craft's wife, Wanda, said she is pleased with the sentence and is glad the
trial is over.

She added that she doesn't believe in the death penalty - God will judge her
husband's killer and she forgives him.

"I will not allow what you (Mendez) have done and what you put me through to
take my place in heaven," she said. "I have visions of a heavenly home, so I
forgive you."

The family said they all forgive Mendez and that Ozell would have agreed.

They said their Christian upbringing would not allow them to do anything but
forgive the man who took such an important person from them.

Still, Wanda Craft said the trial - which lasted two weeks due to a mistrial
- was agonizing.

"It brings closure to know this portion is over," she said. "I can't
remember a night since he was killed that I have slept through the night."

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Source : Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

LubbockOnline.com - Mendez gets life, forgiveness for murder 10/18/07