A Miramar man who claimed self-defense in the 2020 choking death of his roommate was sentenced to life in prison Monday after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder.
Marvin Jean Pierre, 26, said nothing as the jury’s verdict was read by Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein. Life in prison is the mandatory minimum penalty for first-degree murder. Prosecutors in this case were not seeking the death penalty.
Earlier this year Jean-Pierre tried to convince another judge to dismiss the case under the stand your ground law, arguing that he only killed Jose Mondelus on Dec. 29,2020 because he thought Mondelus was about to rape him.
There was no evidence that Mondelus was gay or interested in having sex with Jean-Pierre. Jurors did not hear directly from the defendant, but they listened to his recorded confession.
Defense lawyer Gabe Ermine said he respected the jury’s verdict but didn’t agree with it, and he vowed to appeal.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.
