Testimony begins in case of deadly machete attack

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

(8/28/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Testimony is underway in the trial of a man accused in a savage attack on a Houston pastor and convenience store owner.

Police say Leon Andrade, 36, used a machete to slash the Reverend William Huang to death last year. In court this morning, Huang's family was demanding justice.

Andrade stands accused of murder in the vicious machete attack, which happened in March of last year. Prosecutors say Huang -- a pastor and a convenience store owner -- was only trying to protect one of his employees.

Andrade is accused of violating a protective order by confronting his wife, who was working at the Lucky Seafood Market on Crosstimbers. Huang, who owns the shop, tried to protect the woman. Andrade allegedly chased Huang around the parking lot with a machete that he retrieved from his truck before chopping him a dozen times on the head and neck.

One eyewitness testified what he remembered about the day Huang was murdered.

"The victim ran down to the alley," said prosecutor Sylvia Escobedo Newman. "The man with the machete followed and he heard some horrible sounds, the chopping of flesh and what not and saw the Hispanic man go back to his van and leave the scene."

"I believe that he should be taken away, basically never put back into society again," said one of Huang's relatives who was in court today. "If that means a life sentence, an effective life sentence, just a long enough sentence to keep him away."

If convicted, Andrade faces five to 99 years in prison. Testimony could be wrapping up by later on this week with jurors beginning deliberations either Thursday or Friday.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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