A Tucson man’s whose first-degree murder conviction and sentence were thrown out pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Wednesday.
In June 2008, Oscar Terrazas, 36, was sentenced to life in prison in the September 2007 death of Raul Moreno, 54, plus an additional 11.25 years in the stabbing of another man.
However, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled Judge John Leonardo made a mistake when giving the jury their instructions, said Deputy Pima County Attorney Dan Nicolini.
On Wednesday, Terrazas pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Moreno’s death and to the aggravated assault of the other man, Reyes "Wolfie" Dorame, Nicolini said.
As a result, Terrazas will be sentenced to between 10 and 37 years in prison on May 23.
Moreno agreed to trade a large TV to Terrazas for crack cocaine, according to court testimony. The two argued because Terrazas wanted to use Moreno's bicycle to take the TV home, but Moreno didn't want him to.
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Terrazas stabbed Moreno several times before fleeing.
Moreno's body was found at the corner of North Cuesta Avenue and West Delaware Street, south of El Rio Golf Course, a block north of his house.
A short time later, two Tucson police officers were walking their beat when they heard shouting. A resident pointed Terrazas out and said she heard Terrazas scream at a bicyclist to come back so he could finish stabbing him.
Police took Terrazas into custody and found the bicyclist, Dorame, suffering from stab wounds a few blocks south of Moreno’s house.
When police arrested Terrazas he was holding a bloody knife and carrying a bottle of tequila.
