Florida husband pleads not guilty in Facebook murder case
MIAMI -- A man accused of killing his wife and then posting a confession and a picture of her bloodied body on Facebook pleaded not guilty on Thursday in Miami-Dade County circuit court.
Prosecutors say 31-year-old Derek Medina fatally shot 26-year-old Jennifer Alfonso at their South Miami townhome on Aug. 8. A judge on Thursday set a tentative trial date of Nov. 4.
Medina is charged with second-degree murder, but the Miami Herald reported that prosecutors would probably seek a first-degree murder indictment when the grand jury returns in September.
Authorities at the time said the incident began as a domestic argument. But what made this case different was that Medina apparently took time to share his feelings on Facebook.
“Im going to prison or death sentence for killing my wife love you guys, miss you guys takecare Facebook people you will see me in the news,” stated a post on Derek Medina’s Facebook page. After he turned himself in to police, the page was taken down, though copies of the post and the picture of the dead woman went out on the Web.
Alfonso’s relatives didn’t speak in court Thursday.
Medina’s attorney Sam Zangeneh says his team hasn’t decided on a defense strategy.
Court records indicate Alfonso was shot six to eight times during an argument with Medina.
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