SAN ANTONIO – A former John Jay High School student who was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in October is expected to receive his punishment Thursday during closing arguments.
A new jury was picked on Monday to hear the punishment phase and to determine Jesus San Miguel’s sentence.
San Miguel, 19, was convicted in the fatal stabbing of his friend, Joshua Kinnaman, 18, on April 4, 2023.
Emotions were high inside the courtroom over the case of San Miguel.
Kinnaman was fatally stabbed after challenging San Miguel to a fight over comments he had made to the defendant’s girlfriend during a lunch break at a restaurant across the street from the school.
“Jesus San Miguel brought a knife to a fistfight. A fistfight he had agreed to engage in,” claimed prosecutor Raul Jordan.
Details heard in the first trial were being rehashed for the jury. A video of the stabbing inside a restaurant near John Jay High School was shown.
The video shows two teens going outside to fight. Kinneman was pushing and then seen throwing a punch after being stabbed by San Miguel.
“All because of a schoolyard fight that should have been non-lethal over a girl,” said Jordan.
The defense contends this was a case of self-defense and argues Kinneman initiated the fight.
“The facts are going to show you that not one time does he step forward. Never. He’s walking back the whole time,” said defense attorney Charles Bunk.