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Witness says Cepeda had laughed about killing victim
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Posted on Sep 27 2011
Testifying yesterday in the retrial of Franklin Cabrera Cepeda Jr. for the killing of a businessman in 1999, a co-defendant said that they had laughed after the incident, with Cepeda saying he just “got his payday.”
George Ilo narrated to the court how he and Cepeda entered Yellow House Karaoke in San Jose, then robbed and killed Rong Matthew Zhou on March 1, 1999. Ilo has already pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal.
Ilo said that, as they left the establishment aboard a car, he told Cepeda that Zhou was dead.
“[Cepeda] said that’s good because he got his payday,” said Ilo during direct examination by assistant attorney general Peter Prestley.
Ilo said they were laughing in the car about what had happened.
When Ilo asked Cepeda if he saw some Chinese girls running away and screaming during the incident, Cepeda allegedly replied: “It’s good they ran or they could die also.”
Ilo said he had the knife while Cepeda was armed with a baseball bat when they entered Yellow House Karaoke. He said that Zhou grabbed his knife, triggering their struggle for possession of the weapon.
Cepeda then hit the businessman with a baseball bat on the head, Ilo said.
“I saw blood coming out from Matthew’s [Zhou] head,” said Ilo, adding that he stabbed the victim, then Cepeda took the knife from him and repeatedly stabbed the victim.
Cepeda then reportedly took Zhou’s wallet as the victim was lying in a pool of blood.
Ilo said he didn’t intend to stab Zhou.
“I was a little bit scared and shocked also,” he said.
Ilo said they proceeded to Koresco Hotel where they washed off Zhou’s blood from themselves and then proceeded to his house where he changed clothes.
Ilo said he and Cepeda and a certain Calvin went to a poker establishment in Chalan Kanoa where they bought $50 worth of “ice.” After smoking the “ice” Ilo said they all went home.
