Los Angeles, CA

Long Beach, CA: (Feb-15-07) A Superior court judge labeled Santiago Pineda, as a "Houdini in jail," after he murdered two people. Judge William Pounders sentenced Pineda to death for the murders. He also denied a defense motion for a new trial and refused to reduce the jury's death sentence recommendation to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Raul Tinajero Armenta, an inmate who testified against Pineda, was confronted in a cell at Men's Central Jail, choked, had his head put in the toilet, stomped on his neck and then strangled him. Armenta's mother, Silvia, sued the county, alleging wrongful death, and the Board of Supervisors approved a $700,000 settlement in March 2006. [NBC 4 TV: INMATE MURDER]

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