| 116th Year, 33rd Issue | Thursday, March 24, 2005 | Sparta, North Carolina |
An Alleghany County man, 38-year-old Gregorio Rivera Cruz, will not face the death penalty in his murder trial that is scheduled for this coming August.
Cruz, who is charged with the murder of 35-year-old Bethany Brintle Goins on Dec. 21, 2004, plead not guilty to the first-degree murder charge in Alleghany County Superior Court on Tuesday. Goins died after being stabbed multiple times after what appeared to be a domestic altercation, according to a report by Capt. Carlton Edwards. Goins listed an address in Dobson, while Cruz’s last known address was on Bledsoe Creek Road. Both were apparently staying with a friend at a mobile home on N.C. 18 south.
Cruz was indicted on the charge of first-degree murder on Monday by an Alleghany County Grand Jury. Cruz, represented by Garland Baker, then appeared before Superior Court Judge Richard L. Doughton of Sparta at the Alleghany County Courthouse on Tuesday for a Rule 24 Hearing to decide if the state would seek the death penalty in his case.
Prosecuting in that case is Assistant District Attorney John Sherrill.
Sherrill informed the court that the prosecution is not seeking the
death penalty. That means the maximum penalty for Cruz would be life in
prison, if he is found guilty of murder.
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