First-degree murder trial continues today in Greenacres teen's death

The first-degree murder trial of 29-year-old Alfredo Sotelo-Gomez continues today, with testimony expected from Juan Urdialez, termed by the defense as the prosecution's "star witness."

Sotelo-Gomez could face the death penalty if convicted in the killing of Maciel Martin Videla, 17, of Greenacres.

Videla was found dead in a western Palm Beach County canal in 2008. He was stabbed 15 times in the head, neck and back and his throat slit.

Urdialez was allegedly present at the murder scene, yet has never been charged.

Urdialez identified another man he knew personally who also was allegedly present at the murder scene - Julio Gomez. "This is Julio who I witness involved in the murder," he wrote on a photo and signed for a detective. Yet prosecutors later dropped Gomez's first-degree murder charge, acknowledging they had arrested the wrong Julio Gomez.

An undercover narcotics agent testified Tuesday that Sotelo-Gomez told him not to deal with Videla because he was a possible snitch.

"'Don't worry,'" the agent said Sotelo-Gomez advised him in December 2008. "I'll take care of him tomorrow.'"

Videla was found dead shortly after.

As the trial began Tuesday, Assistant State Attorney Jacqueline Charbonneau told jurors Sotelo-Gomez and group of other men planned to make Videla deaf and blind so he could not snitch again. They lured him into their car and drove west where Sotelo-Gomez pinned Videla's arms behind his back and another man slit his throat.

Videla's girlfriend, 20-year-old Adriana Rodriguez, also is on trial this week with Sotelo-Gomez. She is not accused of direct involvement in the attack on Videla, but the state contends she lured him to the men who would ultimately kill him. Rodriguez was complicit in the plan, Charbonneau told jurors, because she owed Videla money and didn't want to pay him.

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