COMPTON, Calif., July 22 -- A 17-year-old Lynwood boy has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for stabbing his mother to death in a crime he claimed was modeled after the 'Scream' horror movies. His 16-year-old cousin, who held the victim down during the stabbing, also was sentenced today to 25-years-to-life in prison. Mario Padilla and Samuel Ramirez killed Padilla's mother in January of last year and stole $150 in baptismal gifts intended for her 1-month- old daughter. Deputy District Attorney Carol Rose said Ramirez was not eligible for life without parole because he was 14 when he helped kill his aunt. 'The parole board will hopefully protect society from Samuel Ramirez, and he may never see the light of day as well, considering the violent nature of the crime that they did complete,' said Rose. However, the teens were tried as adults in the slaying of Padilla's mother, Gina Castillo, 37, who managed to call 911 after she was stabbed. According to the 911 transcript she identified her son as the person who stabbed her. Both Padilla and Ramirez were also convicted of conspiracy charges that stemmed from the teens plan to kill Padilla's stepfather, Pedro Castillo, during the Jan. 13, 1998, mid-day attack on his wife. The two had told police that the horror films 'Scream' and 'Scream II' inspired them to carry out the killing, but Compton Superior Court Judge John Cheroske never allowed that claim to be entered into evidence.
In a probation report, Padilla said: 'I have been watching television since the age of 7. It's is ironic how people say do not let your kids watch TV at that age, because it really does affect them. All I would do is fantasize how to do things I could not do.' Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators have said the pair allegedly planned to buy a 'grim reaper' costume and voice box similar to the one used by the killer in the movies, but went forward with the killing even though they couldn't afford the disguise. ---
Copyright 1999 by United Press International. All rights reserved. ---
