*NEWS RELEASE*
DA PACHECO SEEKING DEATH FOR TWO WHO REPORTED TODDLER MISING ON MOTHER'S DAY AFTER TORTURE MURDER

RIVERSIDE, CA - Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco has decided that a man and woman will face the death penalty for the torture and murder of a 2 ½-year-old boy in May of this year.

"As one might expect, we take seriously the intentional torture and murder of a small child," said District Attorney Rod Pacheco. "It deserves the ultimate punishment."

Naresh Michael Narine (DOB: 04/30/72) and Belinda Magana (DOB: 8/22/85) reported that Magana's son, Malachi, had gone missing from a Corona park on Mother's Day, May 10, 2009. An extensive search involving dozens of police officers, air units and canines was unsuccessful. Police began to suspect foul play during the investigation of the case.

Detectives determined that Narine and Magana had beat and abused Malachi in the weeks and months prior to reporting him missing. The torture resulted in Malachi's death on May 9, 2009. The day Malachi died, the couple put his body in a trash bag, placed him in the back seat of their vehicle, and went to a party as they had previously planned to do. Later that night, after the party, they buried Malachi's body in the mountains and crafted their plan to cover up his murder by reporting him missing.

The District Attorney made the final decision this morning upon the completion of the death penalty review process. The process included an invitation to each defendant's defense attorney to make a presentation to the District Attorney. One defense attorney made a presentation this morning. After that presentation, the District Attorney discussed the facts and circumstances of the case with senior level attorneys, investigators, and victim advocates at the District Attorney's Office before arriving at the final decision. Along with the egregious nature of the crime, criminal history and childhood history were among the multiple factors considered before the final decision was rendered.

The case, RIF150446, is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney William Robinson. Narine and Magana are next scheduled to appear in court on October 2, 2009 at 8:30 am in Department 52 of at the Riverside Hall of Justice.