Brothers Sentenced To Life For Wedding Reception Murder

ORLANDO (CBS4) - Two brothers have been given life terms behind bars for a deadly shooting at a wedding reception.

Jurors took just three hours Wednesday to find 47-year-old Hugo Varela and 46-year-old Jacobo Varela guilty in the shooting of Felipe Rodriguez. The men were attending a wedding party in DeLeon Springs on Sept. 12, 1998. It took so long to bring the case to trial because of difficulty in tracking down the Varela brothers.

According to testimony, the three men had been friends, but a feud broke out after the brothers accused Rodriguez of owing them money for the delivery of tires.

Prosecutor Ed Davis told jurors the shooting was an "ambush." The defense contended the brothers were defending themselves.

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