DENVER—A man faces the death penalty after being convicted for his role in a prison slaying in which he was videotaped smearing an organ from the victim on his cell door.
A Denver federal jury convicted Rudy Cabrera Sablan Thursday in the first-degree murder of cellmate Joey Estrella, who was killed in 1999 at the federal penitentiary in Florence.
Sablan’s co-defendant and cousin, William Sablan, was convicted last year for the homicide and was sentenced to life in prison without parole after jurors decided against the death penalty.
Prosecutors said Estrella was choked into unconsciousness with headphone cords and then his throat was slit with a razor, later used to disembowel him.
Prosecutors said Estrella was killed after the three men got drunk on homemade wine and got into an argument in their cell. Rudy Sablan’s defense attorneys said he was trying to stop his two cellmates from fighting, and that when he was captured on video holding Estrella’s organ he was trying to appear boastful to protect himself from his cousin.
Jurors are expected to begin hearing arguments Monday from defense attorneys and prosecutors before they decide Rudy Sablan’s sentence.
