Antonio Pedraza faces 16 years to life if convicted
By GENEVA WHITMARSH Daily Press Staff Writer
LAX COURTHOUSE — A former Santa Monica bar owner accused of gunning down a customer and eluding authorities for 19 years has changed legal representation three times since his arrest — delaying the jury trial indefinitely.
Antonio Pedraza, 57, allegedly shot 26-year-old Javier Garcia 14 times in front of a now-defunct bar on the eastside of Santa Monica. He was arrested in Los Angeles on drug charges in July 2003. He claims he acted in self-defense during the 1984 shooting.
An alternate public defender will be officially appointed today to Pedraza’s case during a pretrial conference. Pedraza has been represented by a private attorney and a public defender in the past.
“This is a very old case, and there really isn’t a lot of new discovery,” said Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Larry Droeger. “Basically, the judge will appoint the alternate public defender, and she’ll probably ask for an extension to get familiar with the case. “(Pedraza) is already serving time on the drug charges so it makes him less likely to be in a rush to get this thing going,” he said. “He’s going to do a set amount of time anyway.”
A judge ruled earlier this year that there is sufficient evidence to try Pedraza for murder. He originally set the jury trial for early next year. That date is expected to be pushed back as Pedraza’s lawyer combs through the evidence, including reports, scientific evidence and witness statements.
Police and witnesses say Pedraza asked Garcia to leave the bar in June 1984 after he reportedly broke a beer bottle over a pool table. Garcia responded by opening fire at Pedraza, who managed to avoid being hit and then fired back.
Garcia was struck by 14 bullets, court documents state. The final three were fired into the back of his head at point-blank range while he lay face-down on the sidewalk.
Prosecutors admit Pedraza acted in self defense at first, but claim there is a possibility Garcia could have survived the first 11 shots. Pedraza eliminated that possibility when he deliberately fired into the victim’s head, prosecutors argue.
Pedraza then allegedly fled the country — police found his car abandoned in Santa Monica and believe he fled to Mexico with a large amount of money.
At some point he returned to the United States and was taken into custody on drug charges, police said. He originally gave officers a false name, but his fingerprints alerted authorities to the outstanding murder warrant.
Lawyers originally appointed to the case had discussed resolving the matter before it reaches trial. If convicted of murder, as charged, Pedraza could face between 16 years to life in state prison.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 26, 2004. Read the original PDF.