Dimas-Martinez Sentenced To Die

Man Convicted In 2007 Murder Of Derrick Jefferson

 UPDATED 11:07 AM CDT Apr 01, 2010

A jury has sentenced Erickson Dimas-Martinez to die as a result of his capital murder conviction.

The case was sent to the jury so they could begin deliberating Dimas-Martinez's sentence about 1 p.m. Thursday.

Dimas-Martinez shot and killed Derrick Jefferson, 17, after a party in 2006.

Jurors convicted Dimas-Martinez this week. The death penalty was just one of the options they could have chosen. They ignored defense claims that Dimas-Martinez was mentally deficient.

Prosecutors said Dimas-Martinez was a cold-blooded killer without remorse. They said he would try to seek retaliation if not jailed.

Dimas-Martinez wept in court before the sentence was read.

In addition to the death sentence, Dimas-Martinez received a separate life prison sentence for robbing Jefferson before killing him.

"Justice was served. I know it was," said Shirley Jefferson, one of Jefferson's relatives.

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