MIA ZAPATA Murder Trial Goes To Jury

Jurors have begun deliberating the fate of the Miami man charged with the 1993 murder of Seattle punk-rock singer Mia Zapata of THE GITS, according to a post on the band's web site.

Jesus C. Mezquia, a 49-year-old fisherman and laborer with a history of assaults on women and only a passing connection to Seattle, was arrested in January 2003 at his home in Marathon, Fla., in the heart of the Florida Keys, more than 3,000 miles from the spot — on a dead-end street in Seattle's Central Area — where Zapata's body was found nearly 11 years ago, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Police said they used DNA evidence to tie Mezquia to the slaying.

Investigators stated last year that they had no reason to believe Zapata, 27, knew the man — only that she somehow encountered him on Capitol Hill early July 7, 1993. That's when she was strangled with the cord of her sweatshirt, which bore the name of her band.

The following message was posted Monday evening (March 22) at THE GITS' official web site:

"On Thursday the judge decided to give the defense the weekend to get their defense strategy straightened out. Their arguments were weak and since a new witness (a brave woman who escaped Mesquia [sic] in Seattle in '93) appeared for the prosecution, the defense chose to bargain away their main witness in exchange for the exclusion of the new witness. Very frustrating... it seemed the defense was getting all the breaks.

"The judge wanted the defense to be thorough, and when we thought about it, we agreed that the defense should have every opportunity so that an appeal will be difficult to argue.

"The trial resumed today. This morning the two sides presented their closing arguments to the jury. The jury were given instructions by the judge and informed about the legal definitions of 1st degree murder and premeditation. A rape was involved so the crime automatically meets criteria for 1st degree. Also, the sheer severity of Mia's injuries and the fact that it could have taken anywhere between 3 and 15 minutes to strangle her to death also meets criteria for premeditation. The judge explained to the jury that they had to find Mesquia guilty beyond a 'reasonable doubt' and that meant there had to be real evidence to establish a 'doubt' and that conjecture and hearsay did not count.

"The defense tried to spin a tale of floating DNA molecules and incompetent medics at the scene who allowed interns to rescue Mia from death. They showed a photo of an ungloved hand on Mia's body and the sheet used to cover her body on the grass beside her. These photos alone supposedly proved a botched investigation and corruption of all the evidence. The defense also attacked the credibility of the scientists who analyzed the DNA samples. The second DNA expert witness was a Harvard PhD who had researched DNA since its discovery as the building blocks of life. He now works for a private firm using DNA to research cures for disease. The attorney tried to discredit his expertise and calculations. Lame.

"The defense then made some reference to Pigpen from the Peanuts comic strip to show the jury just how random DNA can spread throughout the population and land on the lacerated nipples of unsuspecting singers.

"They made thinly veiled character assassinations of Mia, her life and her friends. She was drinking and therefore partially responsible, her friends were not credible witnesses because we hung out at 'sweaty rock clubs' and could not remember exactly what we said to police in 1993. Worst of all they said that this was merely a 'sex crime' and that Mia may very well have been drunk and allowed consensual sex with Mesquia to get out of hand. Yeah... so consensual that her clothes were ripped apart. So consensual that her internal organs burst open by the force of the attacker. So consensual that it took three attempts to strangle her to death because she was fighting so hard. So consensual that the blood vessels in her eyes, nose and mouth exploded. So consensual that her nipples were bitten depositing the saliva containing DNA of Jesus C. Mesquia to be swabbed by the medical examiner and placed in evidence for nearly ten years.

"Steve Fogg presented the case for the state and was eloquent and composed in his presentation of the evidence. Mesquia was placed in Seattle, at the scene and on Mia's body. He has many prior arrests for kidnapping, assault and robberies but somehow remained free to one day kill Mia.

"The King County prosecutors, Steve Fogg and Tim Bradshaw have been involved and helpful in solving this case since day one. There is a picture of Mia on their office wall and Fogg referred to Mia's version of 'A Change Has Got to Come' in his opening and closing statements to the jury. I believe that the prosecution has soundly crushed the defense and that Mesquia will go to prison at last. Today at 2:00pm the jury began deliberating and weighing the evidence against Mesquia.

"By 4:00pm today they had not reached a verdict. They will continue deliberations tomorrow.

"More soon..."