WACO (January 27, 2012)—Saul Medina, 28, who’s charged with capital murder in the slaying of a Bellmead convenience store owner, will not face a possible death penalty when he goes on trial this spring.
Medina learned during a pre-trial hearing Friday the state has waived a death sentence in his case, which means if he is convicted of the Aug. 14, 2010 murder of convenience store owner Najmal Haq, he would automatically be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
State District Judge Matt Johnson set Medina's trial date for April 23.
Medina's co-defendant, Frederico Davilla, 26, is scheduled to go on trial on the same date.
He’s charged only with aggravated robbery.
The men are charged in connection with a robbery at the New Quick Food Mart in Bellmead during which Haq was stabbed to death.
Haq survived an earlier robbery in December 2009 during which he was struck in the back of the head with a gun.
Medina, Davilla and an unnamed juvenile were arrested about five days after the robbery.
