Description: When Justice Went to Hell: Los Angeles, California criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendants accused of first-degree murder.

Jofama Coleman and Abel Soto were 20 and 15 years old, respectively, when they were arrested and charged in connection with the May 10, 2003, shooting that killed Jose "Chino" Robles, 16.

On the evening of May 10, 2003 Jose “Chino” Robles and his family were hosting a barbecue in their backyard on 101st Street in south Los Angeles. Around 9:00 p.m. Robles, who was a member of a tagging crew known as “No Control” or “NC,” decided to walk to a nearby liquor store. On the way down 101st Street, he met another member of NC, Albert Segundo, who was heading to the Robles barbecue. Segundo had just seen Coleman, the leader of the rival tagging crew “NGA,” accompanied by another rival gang member known as “Drips,” driving slowly along the street in a white van with wood paneling. Segundo warned Robles the liquor store was in “enemy territory.” Robles shrugged off the warning, replying he would be fine because he had his knife.

Segundo testified he had flashed an NC sign at Coleman and Drips as they drove by. Sensing there might be trouble, he warned another friend, Miko, to take some young women who were standing in the street back into the Robles home.

Segundo walked across the street from the Robles home to pick up a friend, crossed the street back to the sidewalk in front of the Robles home and, seconds later, heard two gunshots. Segundo turned and saw Robles holding onto a fence rail as Drips fired additional shots at Robles. Segundo watched as Drips reentered the van through the passenger door. After the van sped past the Robles home, Segundo and his friend hurried to a car and gave chase. At a stop sign a couple of streets away, Drips got out of the van and pointed a blue steel semiautomatic gun at Segundo’s friend’s car. Segundo’s friend turned the car around and returned to the Robles home.

Outcome: Defendants were both found guilty. Soto was sentenced to 72 years in prison, and Coleman was sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder.

the convictions were affirmed on appeal in 2008.

A witness against the Defendants recanted his testimony.

Defendants were exonerated and the charges against them were dropped.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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