Moses Cabrera
THE Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division has dropped the murder charge against Moses Pangelinan Cabrera, who is accused of killing his brother.
Cabrera, who will turn 79 on April 28, was initially charged with second degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault and battery.
He was previously facing life imprisonment for second-degree murder, 10 years imprisonment for assault with a dangerous weapon, and 10 years imprisonment for aggravated assault and battery.
Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds requested the Superior Court to amend the information against Cabrera, which Judge Joseph N. Camacho granted on Wednesday.
In his request, Hinds said that after evaluating the case and engaging in plea negotiations, it is in the best interest of the Commonwealth to charge Cabrera with voluntary manslaughter.
Voluntary manslaughter is punishable by a maximum imprisonment of 10 years and/or a fine of $10,000.
According to the amended information: “On or about August 1, 2024, on Saipan…Moses P. Cabrera unlawfully killed Pedro Pangelinan Cabrera with malice aforethought, to wit: Defendant struck Pedro Pangelinan Cabrera several times with a hammer, causing death in violation of 6CMC 1101(a), and made punishable by 6 CMC 1101(c)(2).”
Hinds said the “amendment is contingent on the judge accepting the plea agreement in this case, the defendant pleading to the charge, and the judge accepting the defendant’s plea. If the plea agreement does not get accepted or the defendant does not plead or the judge does not accept the plea, this motion is to be withdrawn.”
Moses Cabera admitted killing his brother, Pedro Cabrera, 71, by using a hammer to hit the victim’s head and later dumping the body at the southern side of the fishing base in Garapan, police said.
In a freely given statement to Police Lt. Catherine Pangelinan, Moses stated that he and his brother Pedro had a heated disagreement about their family land, which led to a physical altercation. Moses said Pedro threatened to stab him.
