RIVERSIDE – The death penalty phase of Leroy Gutierrez murder trial opened Tuesday.

A jury convicted Gutierrez in an 8-year-old murder-for-hire plot. Earlier, co-defendant Ezekiel Perez, Jr. was found guilty for his role in the slaying of Oscar Carrillo.

Carrillo was shot and killed in front of a Riverside car repair shop in 2003.

Thomas Pena, the mastermind of the plot, and a woman driving the get-away car were sentenced to prison.

A jury convicted Gutierrez Thursday in an 8-year-old murder-for-hire plot. Earlier, co-defendant Ezekiel Perez, Jr. was found guilty for his role in the slaying of Oscar Carrillo.

Carrillo was shot and killed in front of a Riverside car repair shop in 2003.

Thomas Pena, the mastermind of the plot, and a woman driving the get-away car were sentenced to prison. (INT)

Story Date: November 16, 2011