by Anita Baffoni, WPRO News
A jury found 50-year-old Daniel Lastarza guilty of second degree murder in the beating death of Johnathan Stack behind a bar on Atwells Avenue in 2014.
After seven hours of deliberations following a six day trial, the jury cleared Lastarza of first degree murder however found him guilty for beating Stack with a two-by-four behind the now closed $3 Bar.
Defense tried to prove Lastarza was protecting his friend who was in a fight with the victim over a $400 car deal that went wrong. Stack was a used car dealer.
Prosecution said Stack was “left dying, alone with his scull in pieces, in the parking lot of a cheap bar” according to reports. The altercation was captured on video footage used in the trial.
The jury was split on the decision and Lastarza will now face 10 years to life in prison.
