Hayden Humphreys, 33, is facing a nearly decade-long prison sentence after pleading guilty on Thursday to manslaughter in the death of 38-year-old Rudy Ricky Diaz. Diaz, who was wheelchair-bound and had recently had all his toes amputated, died two weeks after the assault.
The incident occurred late on July 23, 2022, when Humphreys, who had been drinking, encountered Diaz on a Houston street. Humphreys claimed Diaz asked him for money and then “stood up” in a threatening manner after being given some, prompting him to start punching the victim in self-defense.
However, witness accounts contradict Humphreys’ claim, stating they saw him “throwing haymakers” while on top of the unresponsive Diaz. Other witnesses described Diaz as “harmless” and not a threat. Video footage from the area captured Humphreys “behaving erratically” after the encounter.
Diaz was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to blunt force trauma about two weeks later.
Humphreys, who was originally charged with murder, accepted a plea deal for manslaughter. He is scheduled to be formally sentenced on December 1, where he faces eight years in prison.
The victim’s brother, Benji Diaz, expressed a wish for a longer sentence, stating that those who take advantage of people who cannot defend themselves do not deserve to be free.
READ: Triple Murderer Sentenced To Life Without Parole In Oklahoma
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