Friend on trial in shooting: Two accused in robbery of apartment complex manager

Kim Smith

Tuesday, June 12, 2001 | 10:11 a.m.

Paulo Cornejo was shot to death in September 1999 by the apartment complex manager he just robbed. On Monday, his alleged accomplice went on trial for Cornejo's murder.

Chief Deputy District Attorney L.J. O'Neale told jurors that Cornejo, 24, died as a direct result of his own actions and those of his accomplice, Avery Church. As a result, he said, Church should be found guilty of second-degree murder.

Church, 24, is also facing conspiracy, burglary and robbery charges in connection with the incident.

O'Neale told jurors during opening statements Monday that Cornejo and Church struck the manager of the Rochelle Manor Apartments, tied him up with duct tape and robbed him.

The two men then began to run from the apartments, which are located on Escondido Street near Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway.

The manager, William Gifford, however, was able to free himself and ran into the parking lot armed with a .38-caliber weapon, O'Neale said.

When he got to within five to seven yards of the men, O'Neale said Church yelled at Cornejo that Gifford was free and he had a gun.

When Cornejo turned and appeared to reach inside his jacket for a weapon, Gifford fired twice, killing Cornejo, O'Neale said. Church took off and the police were called.

Gifford later identified Church from a photo lineup and his fingerprints were found at the scene, O'Neale said.

Defense attorney Peter Christiansen, however, told jurors that Gifford's version of events can't be true. The autopsy revealed that Cornejo was shot in the middle of the back and the head and therefore could not have been turning around and reaching for a weapon.

The scrapes on his face and arms also show that Cornejo fell face first to the pavement, Christiansen said.

Gifford was so scared of being charged with murder himself that he lied to police, Christiansen said. There are inconsistencies in each of the four statements he gave police.

The evidence will also show that despite Gifford's insistence he didn't pursue the second robber, two or three other bullets were fired after Cornejo fell to the ground dead, Christiansen said.

"(Gifford) shot and killed Mr. Cornejo and he got a pass," Christiansen said, referring to the fact authorities deemed the shooting justified.

The trial is being heard by District Judge Jeffrey Sobel.