Inmate Gets Life In Prison For Grisly Slaying Of Cellmate
Sablan Spared Death Penalty
POSTED: 3:03 pm MDT May 20,
2008
UPDATED: 4:26 pm MDT May 20,
2008
DENVER -- An inmate convicted of murder for the gruesome slaying of a cellmate has been spared the death penalty.A federal jury in Denver sentenced Rudy Cabrera Sablan to life in prison on Tuesday for the slaying of Joe Estrella in 1999. After deliberating for a day, the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict in favor of the death penalty, U.S. Attorney Troy Eid.Prosecutors say Sablan and another inmate choked Estrella into unconsciousness with cords and then used a prison-issued disposable razor to slit his throat and disembowel him in their cell at the federal penitentiary in Florence.
Sablan was captured on video smearing one of Estrella's organs on the cell door. Sablan's cousin, William Sablan, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison last year for the same slaying."The special agents and assistant U.S. Attorneys did an exceptional job during this difficult prosecution," said U.S. Attorney Troy Eid. "Today's verdict ensures that the defendant will be held accountable for his murderous actions."Rudy Sablan will be formally sentenced on June 18.
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Previous Stories:
- May 9, 2008: Prisoner Convicted In Gruesome Slaying Of Cellmate
- April 6, 2007: Inmate Spared Death Penalty In Gruesome Murder Of Cellmate
- March 20, 2007: Death Penalty Phase Begins In Denver Federal Trial
- March 15, 2007: Inmate Convicted In Grisly Prison Slaying
- February 12, 2007: Trial Begins In Gruesome Federal Prison Slaying
- January 23, 2007: Federal Inmate Accused Of Flaunting Victim's Internal Organs
Copyright 2008 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
