PORT HUENEME : Defendant Blames Others in Slaying

A 16-year-old boy accused of shooting a landlord to death while the victim was collecting rent last year was manipulated into taking part in the robbery attempt by other defendants in the case, his attorney said.

During opening statements of the murder trial Wednesday, defense attorney James M. Farley said Gilbert Martinez was “easily intimidated” by three older men intent on robbing Richard Schell, 55, of Santa Barbara, who was killed in the Dec. 1 attack.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Donald C. Glynn said in his opening statement that the Port Hueneme teen-ager fired the fatal shot. But Farley said another of the defendants actually pulled the trigger.

Jose Arreguin, who was convicted Monday by a Ventura County Superior Court jury of first-degree murder for his part in the crime, killed Schell and ordered Martinez to admit the shooting if questioned, Farley told jurors.

“You tell everyone you shot (Schell) or I’ll take care of you,” Farley quoted Arreguin as telling Martinez. Arreguin, 20, gave Martinez the .45-caliber pistol used in the robbery attempt, Farley said.

Martinez, Arreguin and two others were arrested in the slaying.

David Lee Soto, 20, of Oxnard already has pleaded guilty to murder and will testify against Martinez. George Pena, 23, also of Oxnard, is scheduled to stand trial July 12.