Suspected DUI driver charged with murder for death of fetus
A man accused of driving drunk and fleeing a crash that injured a pregnant woman who lost her unborn baby was charged Wednesday with murder for the death of the fetus, authorities said.
Francisco Xavier Martinez-Amezcua, 34, of Moorpark was driving on Spring Road near Los Angeles Avenue in Moorpark about 9:20 p.m. Aug. 24 when he struck a vehicle in front of him then left the scene, authorities said at the time. He was found after a search and arrested.
The victims, Agha and Khadija Mirza of Moorpark, were driving around with their 1-year-old boy to calm him when their vehicle was struck, said Capt. Ron Nelson of the Moorpark police. Khadija, 23, suffered internal injuries, while Agha, 32, had minor to moderate injuries, officials said.
The child Khadija was carrying was pronounced dead Aug. 28 at Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center, according to the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office.
The Medical Examiner's Office examined the roughly 20-week-old fetus, but determinations about the cause and manner of her death were pending further studies, said Chief Deputy Ventura County Medical Examiner James Baroni.
Prosecutors on Wednesday filed an amended complaint charging Martinez with murder, DUI, inflicting great bodily injury, leaving the scene of an accident, resisting and driving without a license in connection with the Aug. 24 crash, court records show. He also faces enhancements for having prior drunk driving convictions, causing death or great bodily injury to more than one person and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .15 or more, court records show.
Martinez pleaded not guilty to all the charges and denied the enhancements, court records show. He is scheduled to return to court Oct. 19 for an Early Disposition Conference.
Martinez remained behind bars in Ventura County jail on Wednesday. He is ineligible for bail because of an immigration hold, jail records show.
He has five previous convictions in Ventura County, including three for misdemeanor driving under the influence, court records show. He also has a 1998 conviction for misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon, court records show.
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This seems so dangerous, to lable this murder..idk...
Francisco Xavier Martinez-Amezcua, 34, of Moorpark was driving on Spring Road near Los Angeles Avenue in Moorpark about 9:20 p.m. Aug. 24 when he struck a vehicle in front of him then left the scene, authorities said at the time. He was found after a search and arrested.
The victims, Agha and Khadija Mirza of Moorpark, were driving around with their 1-year-old boy to calm him when their vehicle was struck, said Capt. Ron Nelson of the Moorpark police. Khadija, 23, suffered internal injuries, while Agha, 32, had minor to moderate injuries, officials said.
The child Khadija was carrying was pronounced dead Aug. 28 at Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center, according to the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office.
The Medical Examiner's Office examined the roughly 20-week-old fetus, but determinations about the cause and manner of her death were pending further studies, said Chief Deputy Ventura County Medical Examiner James Baroni.
Prosecutors on Wednesday filed an amended complaint charging Martinez with murder, DUI, inflicting great bodily injury, leaving the scene of an accident, resisting and driving without a license in connection with the Aug. 24 crash, court records show. He also faces enhancements for having prior drunk driving convictions, causing death or great bodily injury to more than one person and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .15 or more, court records show.
Martinez pleaded not guilty to all the charges and denied the enhancements, court records show. He is scheduled to return to court Oct. 19 for an Early Disposition Conference.
Martinez remained behind bars in Ventura County jail on Wednesday. He is ineligible for bail because of an immigration hold, jail records show.
He has five previous convictions in Ventura County, including three for misdemeanor driving under the influence, court records show. He also has a 1998 conviction for misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon, court records show.
source
This seems so dangerous, to lable this murder..idk...