This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A man charged with murder for shooting a Kearns High School classmate three years ago pleaded guilty Wednesday.
Ricky Angilau, 18, admitted in 3rd District Court to shooting and killing 16-year-old Esteban Saidi on Jan. 21, 2009, when he was a juvenile. As a result of the confession and plea deal, the state amended the charge of murder to manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and dismissed all remaining charges against Angilau, including obstruction of justice, carrying a concealed dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm on school premises.
At a preliminary hearing in April 2011, two teenage witnesses gave accounts of events that led to Saidi's slaying a few blocks from the Salt Lake County high school. One teen said Angilau — who was then 16 — shot into a crowd because he was intimidated by gang members who had gathered to watch the fight. Another painted Angilau as a teenager who wanted to out-bully his nemesis, with Saidi getting caught in the crossfire.
Angilau's defense attorneys had argued he acted in self-defense when he shot Saidi.
Prosecutors have said Angilau acted with "depraved indifference to human life," which they initially said warranted a murder conviction.
Sentencing for Angilau is scheduled for Aug. 17, which is when he would have went to trial on the murder charge.
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