BUFFALO, NY-- He's 13-years old and dropped his head and started to cry as he was led out of an Erie County courtroom. Jean Sanchez is charged with murder, sex abuse, a criminal sexual act and petit larceny.
He is accused of strangling 13-year-old Ameer Al-Shammari in May in a field in Blackrock.
Police said from day one the motive for the crime involved a cell phone. Prosecutors believe Sanchez stole Al-Shammari's phone.
Prosecutor Paul Parisi told the court that the suspect, "confessed to this crime, the DNA indicates or corroborates the confession." Parisi also says there is also video evidence.
"There's video evidence that suggests that this defendant and the victim walked to where the victim was killed together, prior to the crime only by themselves," said Parisi.
Sanchez allegedly used shoelaces and a cord from Al-Shamarri's hoodie to strangle him.
Judge Sheila DiTullio refused bail. Sanchez is being held at the East Ferry detention center in Buffalo.
"This isn't a youthful offender case. This is a case that will either be handled in family court or here [County Court] as an adult. It's very rare that youthful offender is granted for any kind of homicide," Defense Attorney Paul Dell said.
If tried and convicted in county court, Sanchez faces nine years to life. If this case goes to Family court, he could only be in prison until age 21, if found guilty.
Sanchez was tearful as he was led out of the courtroom.
Al Shammari came to the United States with his family from Iraq about 18 months before his murder. His cell phone was a special possession. It was given to him by his parents for improving in school and learning the English language.
