Convicted Fresno killer faces off with judge, victim's family in court

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A defiant convicted slayer showed up to his tribunal sentencing acceptable to look disconnected connected Monday.

"You're smiling now, Mr. Valdez," Fresno County Superior Court Judge Houry Sanderson said. "I watched that grin connected your look make arsenic I said those words due to the fact that you cognize those are truths."

Christopher Valdez changeable and killed Andrew Valdez successful 2019. The 22-year-old unfortunate is unrelated to the shooter, but some had pack ties.

Investigators accidental what began arsenic a enactment successful East Central Fresno ended with aggregate shots.

"The world that my lad Andrew volition ne'er instrumentality to america again has shattered our hearts forever," stepfather Alejandro Lopez said.

Christopher pleaded blameworthy to manslaughter precocious past year. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the execution complaint that could person brought a beingness condemnation astatine proceedings and alternatively agreed to 26 years.

Lopez wanted more.

"As it is written successful the Old Testament of the Bible, an oculus for an eye," helium said. "My son's beingness for your son's life."

Those comments appeared to fluster Christopher.

The killer's sister past took the basal to support him, urging him ne'er to halt being himself and telling him to stay strong.

"Christopher is inactive being charged and accused for a transgression helium didn't do," Alicia Valdez said.

Judge Sanderson past acceptable the grounds straight, saying a witnesser identified Christopher arsenic the shooter.

Alicia, who was past backmost successful the gallery, shouted out. "She's a liar," she said.

Judge Sanderson ordered her to permission the courtroom.

Christopher appeared unmoved done it all, sitting with his caput high.o

"He is gone successful carnal form, but helium is with each of you for many, galore years to come," the justice told the victim's family.

Christopher volition soon caput to the California Department of Corrections to statesman serving his 26-year situation sentence. He already has recognition for astir a 3rd of it.

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