The drug-related slaying was in 2005 at a parking lot at Wendy's on Main Street in the South End of Springfield.
Robert J. CordyBOSTON - The state's highest court today affirmed the first-degree murder conviction of a 35-year-old Springfield man who killed another Springfield man in a dispute involving drugs in a Wendy's parking lot in the South End of the city in 2005.
In a ruling written by Judge Robert J. Cordy, the state Supreme Judicial Court upheld the conviction of Jose M. Marrero. Marrero is serving a mandatory life sentence with no chance for parole for the shooting in the 630 Main St. parking lot.
The victim, Jose M. Costoso, 33, was beaten by a group of men and shot twice at close range, the court said.
A Hampden Superior Court jury convicted Marrero in November 2006.
In a trial before Judge Peter A. Velis, a prosecutor told jurors that four men participated in a "joint venture," to murder Costoso over a drug debt, but said Marrero was the shooter.
Three other co-defendants from Springfield were also convicted, one of second-degree murder, one of involuntary manslaughter and one of manslaughter. The Appeals Court later affirmed the second-degree murder conviction of Oscar X. Reyes, while the two others pleaded guilty.