04/29/2003

Associated Press

Two men have been convicted of aggravated murder in the killing of one of the suspect's future brother-in-laws.

A 12-person jury found Rafael Mora Contreras, 22, and Joseph David Noble, 27, both of Cornelius, guilty on Monday of killing Gonzalo Pizano Guzman.

Authorities said Mora planned the murder to stop Pizano from marrying his 16-year-old sister, and Noble carried it out in exchange for money and drugs.

Mora was also convicted on charges of intentional murder, felony murder and kidnapping. Noble was also found guilty of intentional murder and kidnapping.

Pizano visited his fiancee the night of July 6, 2000. A friend of her brother's and her cousin asked him for a ride to the Forest Hills Golf Course. That was the last time anyone in Pizano's family saw him alive.

A passer-by found Pizano dead in a ditch near Hagg Lake, south of Forest Grove. He had been beaten, shot and stabbed.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)