LEOPOLDO ALEJANDRO CORTES, CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN 2008 FOR THE STABBING OF ANOTHER MAN AT LA SELVA BEACH, WAS GIVEN A RETRIAL WHEN THE COURT OF APPEALS OVERTURNED THE DECISION IN 2011. ON FRIDAY, JURORS RETURNED A VERDICT OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AFTER SEVEN WEEKS OF TESTIMONY AND SIX DAYS OF DELIBERATION. CORTES WAS ORIGINALLY CHARGED WITH STABBING THE VICTIM, CHRIS CARR, THIRTEEN TIMES WITH A KNIFE AT A PARTY ON LA SELVA BEACH ON 2006. CARR DIED FROM HIS WOUNDS SHORTLY THEREAFTER. CORTES IS SCHEDULED FOR SENTENCING ON JANUARY 17.
