2001-02-02

Man Pleads Guilty to Murder in Stabbing

By Jim McBride

A 40-year-old Amarillo man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a murder charge in last year's stabbing death of his former girlfriend's son.

Dwight Manuel Mayberry pleaded guilty to the murder charge in 320th District Judge Don Emerson's court and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, said prosecutor John Coyle.

The victim, 20-year-old Jason Martinez, died May 9 after undergoing surgery for stab wounds, Amarillo police reported.

Martinez was stabbed about 12:30 p.m. May 9 after his mother and Mayberry got into an argument at their home in the 800 block of Osage Street.

According to police, the mother woke Martinez up, and he cut Mayberry with a knife. Mayberry then took the knife away from Martinez and stabbed him.

Mayberry and Martinez were taken to Northwest Texas Hospital, where Martinez later died.

Coyle said the vigim's mother gave a victim impact statement during the hearing. Under Texas law, victims' family are allowed to testify and at make statements to the accused about the effects of the crime.

"The victim's mother made an emotional statement to the defendant," Coyle said.

Other friends and family members also gave victim impact statements in the case. Coyle said he reviewed the facts of the case with family members before reaching a plea-bargain agreement with Mayberry.