FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DRIVE BY SHOOTER’S LIFE SENTENCE UPHELD FOR MURDER OF 13 YEAR OLD BEATRICE DIAZ

San Antonio, Texas: July 15, 2009:

Today, the Fourth Court of Appeals affirmed the murder conviction of Israel Mata for the March 3, 2005 murder of 13 year old Beatrice Diaz during a drive by shooting outside her home on Caldwell Street. Mata, then 23 years old, was a member of a gang called the LC Mob. Mata was riding in the bed of a truck driven by his brother, Arturo Mata, and was shooting at Diaz’s older cousin who was a member of a rival gang. During the shooting, one of the bullets struck and killed young Beatrice.

Mata’s trial began on June 13, 2007, in the 186th District Court before the honorable Judge Maria Teresa Herr. On June 21, 2007, the jury found Mata guilty of Diaz’s murder. Judge Herr then sentenced Mata to life in prison.

On appeal, Mata complained that the trial court erred in allowing the jury to hear evidence that Mata was known to carry guns and was a drug dealer. The Fourth Court of Appeals rejected those arguments.

Previously, on July 9, 2008, the Fourth Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Israel’s brother, Arturo Mata, for his role in Diaz’s murder. Arturo Mata was sentence to confinement in prison for fifty (50) years.

For more information, contact Cliff Herberg, First Assistant District Attorney, at 335-2342.