OXNARD : Witness Names ‘Homeboy’ as Killer

An Oxnard man who has belonged to a gang for more than half his life testified Friday that he is sacrificing his reputation and perhaps his life by naming a fellow gang member as the killer of an intended robbery victim.

The angry outburst by Eddie Makholm, 21, came after a defense attorney denounced him for laughing at times while he testified against Joseph L. Samuel, 25, of Oxnard.

Makholm said smiles and giggles were his way of dealing with the stress of testifying against one of his “homeboys” in the March 22 slaying of Anthony Pech, 24, who was shot in the face after an intruder broke into his Oxnard home in the middle of the night.

“I’m up here throwing away a whole reputation that I built,” Makholm said, thumping his chest.

He then recounted 11 years of gang activity, including selling drugs and “gangbanging,” and said he agreed to testify so he would not lose his children to foster care.

Makholm, who was granted immunity from prosecution, testified he was one of four males who drove to Pech’s residence after the defendant’s cousin, Chris Samuel, proposed a robbery at the house. Makholm said he told the others he did not want to participate.

Once at the residence, Joseph Samuel carried a shotgun as he and his cousin approached the house, Makholm testified. He said Joseph Samuel later admitted firing the weapon because Pech appeared to have a gun when he arose from his bed after Chris Samuel kicked down the door.

Makholm conceded that he initially told police Chris Samuel had the shotgun. Makholm said he lied because Joseph Samuel had been “my homeboy for a while, you know.”

“I’d have taken a bullet for him,” Makholm said.

During cross-examination, Deputy Public Defender Gary Windom confronted Makholm with an earlier statement to police that “I will try to tell you or do whatever it is it takes to convict Joe.”

The hearing is scheduled to resume Monday.