‘Robert was a loving and giving young man’: Hayward man gets 13 years for killing friend

DUBLIN A Hayward man was sentenced to years in prison for killing his friend but not until after he heard from the victim s family court records show In a July court hearing -year-old Steven Velasquez listened to two of Robert Lee Saffold loved ones speak before he was formally sentenced At an earlier court date Velasquez pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in a plea deal with prosecutors who dropped a murder charge in return court records show We will never receive a call from Robert caroling or just checking in to see how someone is doing or just to make us laugh Robert was a loving and giving young man Saffold s mother Mary Ann Brooks stated in court If you needed help he would come if he could Robert had been starting to move forward in a positive manner such as changing his attitude and demeanor Velasquez didn t speak at the hearing He was transferred to North Kern State Prison on Aug and remains there records show Velasquez shot and killed Saffold on the morning June in a junkyard backyard of a residence on block of Whitman Street then attempted to medical expert the crime scene and come up with a cover story according to police testimony First he recounted police Saffold accidentally shot himself while pistol-whipping Velasquez then revealed the gun went off during a struggle When police described him a surveillance camera captured the shooting he gave a third version that was more consistent with the footage Velasquez lived at the home where the shooting took place according to court records At the preliminary hearing Velasquez s lawyer argued it was self-defense saying the -pound Saffold was coming after Velasquez after using a heroic dosage of methamphetamine After the homicide Velasquez attempted to wedge the gun into Saffold s lifeless fingers then removed jewelry from the body