Father's fourth manslaughter trial begins
By Barbara Grijalva KOLD NEWS 13
TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) - The fourth trial is underway for a Tucson father who admits he killed two men, but maintains he had to.
Daniel Renteria says he killed James "Red" Marschinke and Richard Rue, Jr. last year in self- defense. Three previous juries deadlocked in his case.
Some are calling this fourth trial unprecedented.
"We're talking about two persons that have been murdered. We're seeking justice," said Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall after the third trial.
Renteria's defense is that he believed one of the men he killed had been sexually molesting his 3-year-old son.
Renteria claims the other man had threatened to kill him and the child if they told anyone about the molestation.
During opening statements Wednesday, the prosecutor said taking the law into your own hands is not justified, so Renteria is guilty of the manslaughter charges.
The defense told the jury Renteria only wanted to tell Rue and Marschinke to leave his family alone, and never intended to kill anyone and that he acted in self-defense.
Renteria will take the stand, his attorney said. He also testified during his third trial.
Renteria had been out on bond, but is back in the Pima County Jail after a judge decided he had violated conditions of his release.