No new trial for Pona in Rivera slaying

Published May 14, 2010 at 4:43 p.m.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A Superior Court judge Friday rejected Charles "Manny" Pona's bid for a new trial, finding credible key witnesses' testimony that Pona orchestrated the killing of Jennifer Rivera to stop her from testifying in a murder trial.

Judge Robert D. Krause set Pona's sentencing date for June 29.

A jury late last month found Pona guilty -- for a second time -- of plotting to gun down 15-year-old Rivera in May 2000 to stop her from testifying against him in the murder trial of teenager Pona shot as he worked on a car. The panel declared Pona guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, firearms charges and obstruction of justice for killing Rivera on the eve of a murder trial in which she was a key witness.

The state high court had overturned his previous conviction for the same crimes. In November 2003, a jury convicted Pona in Rivera's murder, conspiracy to commit murder and other charges. In June 2008, the Rhode Island Supreme Court overturned that conviction, deciding that Pona had not received a fair trial.

Read more of our coverage of the trial...

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