Gilberto Tello sentenced to 70 years for murdering his wife
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Mar 5, 2018, Comments Off
Courtesy Yanira Deleon,
The District Attorney’s Office reports the guilty verdict for Gilberto Tello who was on trial for murder after shooting his wife multiple times.
On October 23, 2011, the Laredo Police Department Communications Division received a shots fired call that occurred on the 1500 block of South Bartlett Ave. Upon arrival, police officers found a lifeless woman on the floor with multiple bullet wounds on her upper body and midsection. The victim was later identified as Marisela Flores. During questioning, Tello admitted to LPD investigators to shooting Flores for biblical reasons.
Gilberto Tello was arrested and charged with murder, a first-degree felony in the State of Texas.
The trial, which took place before the 49th District Court Judge Joe Lopez, was heard by a jury over the course of four days. Numerous witnesses took the stand during the trial including bystanders who heard several gunshots and a woman screaming the night of the murder. LPD officers also took the stand revealing the details of the attack and to Tello’s demeanor. Two of the couple’s daughters also took the stand and recounted the events that took place that night. They described to the jury how Tello and their mother were arguing before he shot her. Expert witnesses who evaluated Espinoza and conducted psychological assessments for insanity also took the stand.
After a short deliberation, the jury rendered their guilty verdict. Tello was sentenced to serve 70 years and assessed an $8,000 fine. He will begin his sentence immediately at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Correctional Institution Division.
Assistant District Attorneys Pedro Guajardo, Aaron Bundoc, Rene Benavides, Albrecht Riepen and Elizabeth Castillo prosecuted the case for the State.
