Not-Guilty Plea Entered in Murders of 7 People
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A man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he murdered seven people in a yearlong spree: three during a drug transaction, three in various bars and one in a motel parking lot.
Abelino Manriquez, 33, an unemployed laborer from East Compton appearing in Municipal Court for arraignment, denied seven counts of murder, three counts of residential robbery and one count of residential burglary. He also pleaded not guilty to special circumstance allegations--multiple murders and murder during an attempted robbery and a burglary--which would qualify him for a possible death sentence.
Manriquez was ordered to remain in custody without bail and to return to court Sept. 10 for the scheduling of a preliminary hearing.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Morrison said three of the slayings were premeditated by Manriquez and a second suspect and occurred during “a planned drug rip-off.” Investigators are trying to identify the second suspect.
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