Shiprock 男子承认二级谋杀：争吵中反复推搡致女子头部重伤身亡，认罪协议商定刑期15年
美国司法部新墨西哥区联邦检察官办公室10月23日宣布，Shiprock 居民 Ryan Flute（46岁，纳瓦霍族登记成员）已就一名女子之死承认二级谋杀罪。根据认罪协议，双方商定的刑期为15年监禁，须经法庭批准。
根据法庭文件，2024年5月21日，Ryan Flute 与受害人在新墨西哥州圣胡安县 Shiprock 的一处住所内饮酒时发生争吵，冲突随之升级。争吵中，Ryan Flute 反复推搡受害人，致其向后跌倒、头部撞上一件家具。Ryan Flute 随后将受害人扶起，两人就寝。
次日早晨，Ryan Flute 发现受害人失去反应，遂呼叫紧急医疗救援。受害人被送往医院后一直未能恢复意识，于2024年5月27日身亡。尸检认定其死因为钝器伤、主要集中于头部，其颈部、躯干与四肢亦有受伤。
Ryan Flute 刑满释放后还将面临最长5年的监管释放；联邦监狱系统不设假释。
第一助理联邦检察官 Ryan Ellison 与联邦调查局（FBI）Albuquerque 外勤办公室主管特工 Justin A. Garris 宣布了上述认罪。此案由联邦调查局 Albuquerque 外勤办公室的 Farmington 常驻机构调查，纳瓦霍警察局、纳瓦霍刑事调查部与 Farmington 警察局协助，助理联邦检察官 Zachary C. Jones 负责起诉。
Shiprock Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder: Woman Died of Head Injuries After Being Repeatedly Pushed During Argument
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico announced on October 23 that Ryan Flute, 46, of Shiprock, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of a woman. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the parties agreed to a sentence of 15 years in prison, subject to the court's approval.
According to court documents, on May 21, 2024, Flute and the victim were drinking alcohol at a residence in Shiprock, in San Juan County, New Mexico, when an argument turned violent. During the argument, Flute repeatedly pushed the victim, causing her to fall backward and strike her head on a piece of furniture. Flute helped the victim to her feet, and they went to bed.
The following morning, Flute found the victim unresponsive and called for emergency medical assistance. The victim was transported to the hospital; she never regained consciousness and died on May 27, 2024. An autopsy determined she died from blunt-force injuries, primarily to her head. She also sustained injuries to her neck, torso, and extremities.
Upon release from prison, Flute will be subject to a period of supervised release of up to five years. There is no parole in the federal system.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI's Albuquerque Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department, the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, and the Farmington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：新墨西哥州圣胡安县 Shiprock 社区附近的 Shiprock 岩层，案发地即位于该社区（资料图）。图片来源：Christian David / Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 4.0
