Anthony Escobedo pled not guilty to murder in the case of Billy Newson, who was shot to death about an hour after he and others robbed and roughed up Escobedo.
Escobedo, 42, is charged with shooting Newson, 29, in the head early in the morning of March 18 at the intersection of East Colfax Avenue and Pearl Street. Denver District Court Judge Catherine Lemon set Jan. 15 as the trial date.
According to a court document Escobedo told a witness that several men had beaten him, stripped him of his pants and robbed him in an alley near East 17th Avenue and Pearl Street.
Escobedo began looking for someone he called “gay boy,” according to the document. Escobedo allegedly spotted Newson and several other men.
“There you are, fool,” the witness heard Escobedo say, according to the document. The witness heard a gunshot, saw a muzzle flash and watched Escobedo flee south on Pearl.
A doctor pronounced Billy Newson dead at the scene.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671, tmcghee@denverpost.com or
