Father of accused shooter testifies in Lynn murder trial

SALEM – The father of Jose Cabrera, charged in the fatal shooting of a rival gang member on Halloween 2008, took the stand Friday denying that his son drove or owned a silver Kia.Juan Cabrera, 57, took the stand testifying before the jury in Salem Superior Court that he never saw his son in a silver Kia and that his son did not own any car or have a license.But earlier testimony by street minister Angel Arroyo said he saw Cabrera driving the silver Kia, was going to even buy it from Cabrera at one point and also saw him driving it the night of the fatal shooting of Tony Pich.The elder Cabrera also acknowledged that he and his son were making arrangements to go to the Dominican Republic but that his son needed to get a passport and he needed to get his re-issued because it was not active.At one point he testified that he had been planning the trip two weeks before Halloween of 2008.He also told the jury panel that he never did go because “my son started having problems.”But authorities believe that Cabrera was trying to leave the country because of the possibility of him being arrested for the murder of Pich, 22, who was gunned down in front of his home at 1-3 Olive St. on Nov. 1, 2008. Pich was a member of the AKC (Avenue King Crips gang) and Cabrera reportedly a member of the rival gang Deuce Boyz.Juan Cabrera testified that he saw his son on Sunday, Nov. 2 and that he stayed at his Park Street home in Lynn on Tuesday and Wednesday following the incident, but when he testified before the grand jury he stated he saw him on Saturday and didn’t see him until Monday.”I talked to him on Saturday,” Juan explained.”Why are you now testifying he slept over your house on Tuesday? Why did you tell the grand jury you didn’t see him on Tuesday?” Buxton inquired.”I don’t remember. We were going through very difficult times,” replied the elder Cabrera.Assistant District Attorney Kristen R. Buxton is pointing out discrepancies to the jury as to his testimony before the grand jury in 2008 and his testimony now at the trial.Cabrera’s sister, Lazara Lugo, 26, of Lynn, who formerly lived on Estes Street in Lynn, testified also Friday morning saying that her brother did not drive a silver Kia and that she never saw the vehicle.The vehicle in question, a Kia Sephia, however, was found nearby her home on Estes Street by police two days following the shooting on Olive Street. It had a bullet hole in the trunk.Jose Cabrera, who was on probation at the time through January 2009 for a cocaine possession charge, went to Lynn District Court on Nov. 6 to see his probation officer where he was observed entering the courthouse by detectives. Police approached Cabrera and asked if he would voluntarily come to the Lynn police station to speak with detectives and Cabrera agreed and was arrested later that day for the murder of Pich.The 16-member jury panel, consisting of nine women and seven men, will view the scene of the crime on Olive Street and also the 7-Eleven store at the corner of Essex and Fayette streets on Monday around noon. Only 12 jurors will actually decide the fate of Cabrera when they being to deliberate.The jury is expected to get the case sometime late next week.Cabrera, who was just 18 at the time of the incident, faces a life sentence if convicted as charged.