Man accused of murder in 2021 Ashland stabbing found guilty of manslaughter, will be sentenced Aug. 10
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A jury found a man guilty on Thursday in a 2021 Boone County stabbing death.
Robin Morales-Sanchez, 22, was found guilty on Thursday afternoon of voluntary manslaughter, two counts of armed criminal action and a count of first-degree assault.
He was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and two counts of armed criminal action. He is accused of killing Moises Hernandez-Sanchez by stabbing him several times in the torso at an Ashland home in 2021.
Morales-Sanchez is being held at the Boone County Jail. He will be sentenced Aug. 10 at the Boone County Courthouse.
A jury recommended to the judge that Morales-Sanchez should be sentenced 50 years: 15 years for the manslaughter charge, 15 years for one of the armed criminal action charges, 10 years for first-degree assault and 10 years for the second armed criminal action charge.
The prosecution and defense delivered their closing statements Thursday morning, intensifying the high tension in the Boone County courtroom. Friends and family of Moises Hernandez-Sanchez watched closely as both sides presented their arguments.
The prosecution revisited direct quotes from testimonies given the previous day. They emphasized that three witnesses described the defendant's character problems on Wednesday.
Sarah Malakie, the defendant's girlfriend at the time, told a detective after the incident that the defendant was "hot-headed" and "liked to get in fights." Prosecutors noted the force needed to make the stab wounds -- so much that it fractured the victim's ribs, according to pathologist Dr. Carl Stacey.
The defense said that a fight had occurred among four men, including Morales-Sanchez and Hernandez-Sanchez. According to their account, Morales-Sanchez retreated to his house after the altercation, and Moises followed him inside.
The defense contends that Morales-Sanchez acted in self-defense against the victim. They also referenced testimony from Malakie, who picked up Morales-Sanchez from the scene. Malakie said Morales-Sanchez had a black eye and appeared to have been attacked.
After the verdict was announced, the state, witnesses, friends and family of Hernandez-Sanchez gave impact statements, which all expressed a range of emotions while sharing memories of the victim.
Morales-Sanchez cried while impact statements were given.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
