Viola Barrios Laid To Rest
Son Of Slain Restaurateur Offers To Pay For Suspect's Defense
POSTED: Monday, April 28, 2008
UPDATED: 9:09 am CDT April 29,
2008
SAN ANTONIO -- On the day when the family laid their mother to rest, Louis Barrios announced his family would offer to pay for the defense of the teenager accused of killing Viola Barrios in a botched burglary.
"(Attorney Bobby Barrera) said it would be $100,000 to try this case," Barrios said. "The Estradas can't afford it; Well, the Barrios family can."
Joe Estrada Jr., 18, is in the Bexar County jail charged with capital murder and is being held on $1 million bond, but at the funeral for the slain restaurateur, Estrada's parents sat by the Barrios' side. The Estrada family lived next door to Barrios, who was planning on moving out of her northwest side home in May into a gated community.
"My mother, who is now in a much better place -- yes, she suffered, but is in a much better place -- would not have wanted this young boy to get the death penalty," Barrios said.
Barrios said he wants Estrada to receive adequate representation in the capital murder case so that he might avoid the death penalty.
Barrios' attorney, Roy Barrera Sr. said he has declined his client's request to represent Estrada both for professional and personal reasons. Barrera, a longtime friend of the Barrios family, told KSAT 12 News he has counseled his client not to pay for the teenager's representation. Barrera said if Barrios were to pay for counsel and Estrada is given the death penalty, Barrios' involvement could pave the way for an appeal.
Viola Barrios was found dead in her home Thursday after a fire had allegedly been started to cover up the slaying of the founder of the Los Barrios restaurants, police said.
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