This is a very sad story, but at least it is one with justice at the end:
- MURDERER OF THE GITS LEAD SINGER MIA ZAPATA, CONVICTED OF PREMEDITATED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER. SENTENCING DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED.
Jesus Mezquia, a 49-year-old Cuban-born man living in Florida, plead not guilty to the charges of first-degree murder for the 1993 death of Seattle-based post-punk outfit The Gits' lead singer Mia Zapata. But, on Thursday, March 25, 2004, after a three day deliberation, the jury delivered the guilty verdict before King County Superior Court Judge Sharon Armstrong. Mezquia now faces 20 years to life in prison for his crimes. Sentencing will begin in April.
The trial began March 8, 2004. Mezquia, through DNA evidence, was linked to the murder Zapata, who was strangled to death with the cord of her sweatshirt on July 7, 1993. Her body was found around 3:20am in the streets of Seattle's Central Area.
Mezquia was arrested in Florida in January 2003 after DNA evidence linked him to Zapata?s death. He was charged in February 2003 with first-degree murder and brought to Seattle from Miami in March. He has been held, without bail, in a King County Corrections Facility since March 2003.
Today, Zapata's friend and former band mate, Steve Moriarty, issued a statement:
- I was in a band called The Gits. We formed in 1986 and moved to Seattle from Ohio in 1989. We released some singles and an album, "Frenching the Bully" in 1992. We had just returned to Seattle from a west coast tour and were finishing our second album, "Enter: the Conquering Chicken" in July of '93 when our singer, Mia Zapata was abducted and murdered.
In addition to the police investigation, we hired a private investigator. Every band from Nirvana to Hootie and the Blowfish played benefit shows to help us fund the investigation. The years passed by and few clues were revealed. We never gave up hope that we would find the bastard who killed our friend, plunged our community into fear and ended The Gits.
Article comments
1 - Jim Carruthers
I remember the comix from Los Bros Hernandez, and records from contributors like Joan Jett, and think at last some justice is done. Some sort of pop cult justice.
2 - Sarah J
Very imformative thank you very much.
3 - Eric Olsen
thank you, Sarah
4 - VegasBaby
Rest In Peace MIA you are loved by this world and always will be We Miss You Greatly! AND as to the world that is currently lucky enough to be graced by your presence YOU LUCKY BASTARDS!
Tonia Kelso
Las Vegas, NV
5 - VegasBaby
Rest In Peace MIA you are loved by this world and always will be We Miss You Greatly! AND as to the world that is currently being graced with your presence;
just 3 words ...
"YOU LUCKY BASTARDS!"
Tonia Kelso
Las Vegas, NV