Father Testifies For Son In Murder Trial

PUEBLO – In August of 2007, 42-year-old Mark Lucero was gunned down in the driveway of his Pueblo home located at 2500 Hollywood Dr.

A father and son have since been charged with First Degree Murder in the case. 45 year-old Joe Manuel Sierra and his 17-year-old son, Rico Sierra went to Lucero’s home to confront him because of an argument over Lucero’s wife, Angela Esquibel. According to testimony during the trial, Esquibel had a relationship with Joe Sierra while Lucero was serving time.

17-year-old Rico Sierra was in court today for his trail. Sierra was the one who pulled the trigger, shooting Lucero seven times in his driveway, but Sierra plead not guilty to the murder charges claiming that he shot Lucero in self-defense.

In court this morning, Joe Sierra, who is awaiting his trial in January took the stand, and waived his right to remain silent in order to testify in favor of his son.

After a break, the jury heard the closing statements from both the prosecution and defense. The arguments between the attorneys’s became heated several times during the statements. Sierra’s attorney’s brought to attention the violent past of Mark Lucero, and claimed that he charged at Rico’s father, Joe with a kitchen knife the day he was shot giving Rico no choice but to protect himself and his father.

Lawyers for the prosecution claimed that the knife found at the scene was not Lucero’s and that he was unarmed.

Following the closing statements, the jury took a recess and will meet back at the courtroom Thursday morning at 8:15 am for further deliberation and to make a verdict.

Stay tuned to NEWSCHANNEL 13 and KRDO.com for updates on this story as well as the jury’s final verdict.