Two convicted in death of HPD Officer Canales
Slain officer's family testify as jury weighs duo's punishment
Jurors and the widow and daughter of Houston police Officer Henry Canales wept Friday during testimony in the punishment phase of a trial of two people who were convicted earlier in the day of felony murder in the June 23, 2009, fatal shooting of the undercover officer.
Several jurors wiped tears from their eyes and sniffled as they listened to Canales' widow and his 18-year-old daughter break down in tears. Both testified they continue to have trouble sleeping and concentrating after Canales was killed in an undercover sting.
“When we go home, the house is quiet, and we know that our dad is not going to come home,” Stephanie Canales said.
Earlier Friday, Xiomara Mendez-Rosales, 37, and Andres Nava-Maldonado, 42, were found guilty of felony murder and engaging in organized crime.
Both face sentences ranging from five years to life in prison.
Stephanie Canales sobbed as she talked about quitting college last year because she could not focus after her father's death.
She graduated from high school as a straight-A student, which she credited to her father.
“I knew getting a B was not acceptable at my house,” she said.
She told the jury her father restored classic cars and how he bought her a small car to compete in drag races
when she was 9.
She also talked about how the death had affected her teenage brother, Henry Canales Jr.
“He was my brother's best friend,” Stephanie Canales said. “Now, he doesn't talk about it all.”
Amor Canales said she last spoke to her husband about two hours before he was killed.
“He said, ‘I'm going to meet the crooks. They're on the way,' and I said, ‘I love you. Be careful.'41;” She broke down in tears as she said it.
Armed suspect killed
Canales, 42, was shot and killed by Roberto Pedroza Carrillo in a barrage of gunfire during a sting operation in which the officer was trying to sell “stolen” televisions, valued at more than $35,000.
Carrillo also was fatally wounded in the gunfight. He was shot by Canales and another undercover officer in a southwest Houston parking lot at Hillcroft near Bellaire.
The jury found Nava and Mendez to be Carrillo's accomplices and complicit in the felony murder, which is charged when a death occurs while
a felony is being committed.
Nava's defense attorney, Casey Keirnan, and Bob Loper, who is representing Mendez, argued their clients did not know Carrillo had a gun and did not intend for anyone to be shot and killed.
More testimony Monday
They asked jurors to find the pair guilty of attempted theft, not the felony murder.
Afterward, Keirnan said he was surprised at the verdict.
“I thought they were not guilty,” the attorney said. “I think their verdict on punishment will tell us how they feel about it — just how strongly they feel about it.”
The two were not charged with the murder of a police officer because Canales did not have time to identify himself as an officer.
The punishment phase, in state District Judge Mary Lou Keel's court, is scheduled to continue Monday with testimony from an agent from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
brian.rogers@chron.com
