Parlier killer sentenced to 21 years for 'deadly case of mistaken identity'

PARLIER, Calif. (KFSN) -- More than 4 years aft the decease of Silvano Mendoza, a convicted Parlier slayer learned his condemnation and came face-to-face with his victim's daughter.

"I conflict regular to marque consciousness of wherefore this happened and however to proceed surviving (with) this pain," Almira Mendoza said.

Francisco Munoz sat softly and stared consecutive up arsenic Almira spoke.

Prosecutors accidental Munoz changeable Mendoza from a passing car successful what they antecedently described arsenic a deadly lawsuit of mistaken identity.

"Every night, I privation you to spot my father's face," Johanna Mendoza work aloud connected behalf of different household member. "You stole his life, and thing volition ever alteration that."

Munoz's 21-year condemnation comes months aft a melodramatic assemblage proceedings successful which jurors heard from respective witnesses and saw surveillance of the shooting, adjacent seeing a flash erstwhile Munoz pulled the trigger.

The man's attorneys argued Munoz was framed, and aft 5 days of deliberations, the assemblage foreperson said that the radical was hopelessly deadlocked.

Munoz aboriginal pleaded nary contention to voluntary manslaughter, avoiding a 2nd execution proceedings and a imaginable beingness sentence.

"There's nary leeway for either side," Fresno County Superior Court Judge Michael Idiart said. "Sentence volition not spell up. The condemnation volition not spell down. The statement was 21 years."

After years of pushing for justice, Mendoza's household said that they wanted more.

"21 years is acold excessively short," Johanna said. "He deserves a beingness sentence. You are a coward, and nary murderer deserves forgiveness."

With Munoz present acceptable for transportation to the California Department of Corrections, the justice offered last words to the victim's family.

"They accidental that clip heals each wounds," Judge Idiart said. "That's much of a saying than an actuality. The champion mode you tin grant your gramps oregon begetter is to retrieve him."

Munoz decided not to talk successful court. As portion of his plea deal, helium agreed not to entreaty his situation sentence.

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