Albuquerque man loses appeal in 2018 teen murder conviction

The New Mexico Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of an Albuquerque man serving two life sentences for the 2018 killings of two teenagers whose bodies were found in a shallow grave on the West Mesa. The court rejected arguments from the man’s attorneys that the jury instructions in his trial were flawed.

Julio Almentero is serving two life sentences after he, Stephen Goldman Jr. and Jimmie Atkins tortured and killed 14-year-old Ahmed Lateef and 15-year-old Collin Romero nearly seven years ago. Investigators believed the teens were killed over marijuana.

Almentero appealed his conviction, claiming the jury instructions were flawed. The New Mexico Supreme Court disagreed and affirmed the conviction.