A man accused of running over another motorist multiple times during what police called a "road-rage" incident on Rufina Street in 2021 has been sentenced to 16 years in prison over the objections of family members of the victim.

Relatives of Joaquin Martin — the 32-year-old man who was killed during the incident — begged a judge not to accept Elezear Flores-Torres' plea to second-degree murder so he would have to stand trial for first-degree murder in the case.

"Please, Your Honor, listen to our pleas and do not let this man choose his own justice," Martin's mother Monika Romero implored during Flores-Torres' plea hearing Sept. 17.

But state District Court Judge Jason Lidyard told the grieving family members he agreed with prosecutors that the plea deal was the best way to ensure Flore

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