SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A convicted killer whose life was spared when he agreed to testify against his cousin reneged on the agreement at an aggravated murder trial in Spokane.
The Tri-City Herald reports Pedro Mendez-Reyna asserted his right not to incriminate himself 29 times before the jury Thursday and was found in contempt of court for refusing to testify. The judge said he could not “plead the Fifth Amendment” because he had already pleaded guilty to his involvement in the slayings of five people at a Pasco auto body shop 23 years ago.
Forty-six-year-old Vicente Ruiz is on now on trial in the case that was moved from Franklin County.
The judge could not add any punishment to Mendez-Reyna for contempt because he’s already in prison.
