Mosaic of a Murder

Raul Rodriguez said he killed a man during a 1991 holdup at Malaga restaurant. At his trial this spring, the jury didn't see it that way.

A A A Comments By Steven Almond Wednesday, Jun 1 1994

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Rodriguez: What I have done has been done out of necessity. Because I have needed the money, and then I didn't want to do it, either.... To start stealing again, I don't think it was for the heck of it or anything like that. If A if I've done it, it has been out of, out of necessity. At no time have I wanted to kill anybody.

Granado: But that's the risk you were running when you were robbing people at gunpoint, no?

Rodriguez: Yes, I know that if I went, I would expect to be killed, to kill or be killed.

Granado: And in this case you killed.
Rodriguez: I don't know if I killed.
Granado: I'm telling you, you killed. This man is dead. As a consequence of a shot he received from your weapon. And you know that because of that, you are going to have to go in front of a judge and you are going to have to answer to the charges?

Rodriguez: Yes.
Granado: Are you sorry now for what has occurred?
Rodriguez: Yes.
Granado: Do you realize the gravity and consequences of your acts?
Rodriguez: Yes.

Granado: Is there anything else you want to say at this moment, Raul, before we end this recording?

Rodriguez: No, the only thing I have left to say is that may God forgive me, and nothing else.