Papo Newman
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Francisco 'Papo' Newman participated in the assassination of the Puerto Rican show host Luis Vigoreaux on January 17 of 1983. Newman was arrested by the Police, confessed the crime, and became a witness for the court. His sentence was reduced for his cooperation. His testimony involved David López Watts as murder accomplice and Lydia Echevarria as the intellectual assassin. Newman has expressed that he was addicted to drugs at the time and that he intoxicated himself heavily before executing the murder.
Newman confessed that it was him who entered Vigoreaux's car and ordered Vigoreaux to drive to the place where the murder occurred. He also confessed that he hit Vigoreaux on the head with a car wrench after being stabbed by López-Watts. Ultimately, Newman confessed that it was him who spread gasoline over Vigoreaux's car and set it on fire; burning Vigoreaux to death as he was inside the car's trunk.
Newman was charged with first grade murder, aggravated kidnapping, conspiracy, and aggravated damages. He has expressed regret about his actions, attributing his behaviour at the time to his drug addiction.
References
- The People v. Echevarría Rodríguez, 128 DPR 299 (http://intranet.bc.inter.edu/reference.nsf/bf25ab0f47ba5dd785256499006b15a4/03ca9ac4f51aa26e04256d020066b33f?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,echevarria). San Juan, Puerto Rico: Superior Court of Puerto Rico. April 25, 1991.