SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — Family members and friends of a slain Morgan Hill teenager, Marissa DiNapoli, gathered in a San Jose courtroom on Tuesday wearing pink sweatshirts printed with photographs of the young homicide victim.
DiNapoli’s loved ones have been waiting since last summer for her accused killer, Martin Mendoza, to enter a plea. Mendoza appeared in court, however, his arraignment was delayed for a second time. A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge pushed the arraignment back until February to give prosecutors and defense attorneys more time.
Mendoza, 21, is charged with first-degree murder for the death of DiNapoli, his 18-year-old girlfriend.
One of DiNapoli’s family members burst into tears when she stepped out of the courtroom, and several expressed anger toward Mendoza. Attorneys told the frustrated group that murder cases like this one progress forward slowly. As the group left the courthouse, they shouted out Mendoza’s name to jail inmates who were within earshot.
The victim’s friends described Mendoza as a possessive and violent boyfriend. They warned DiNapoli to stay away from him. “Two years ago I told her, ‘He’s going to kill you,’” one friend told reporters…