Slain Singer’s Fans Joyous Over Killer’s Life Sentence Cheers, Impromptu Parade Outside Houston Court House

Cheers, tears and honking car horns from the crowd of Selena fans outside the Harris County Criminal Courthouse greeted the news that the singer’s killer had been sentenced to life imprisonment.

“That’s what she deserved,” said Norma del Fierro, 29, of Houston as she gave a thumbs up out the window of her van and honked approval of the sentence given Yolanda Saldivar on Thursday.

Del Fierro’s van was one of a parade of vehicles blaring Tejano music and horns. A handwritten sign on the side of del Fierro’s van said, “Selena Justicia Para Ti” (Selena, Justice for You.)

Saldivar, 35, who had been crying off and on all morning Thursday, hung her head and sobbed when the sentence was read. She will have to serve at least 30 years before she can be considered for parole.

Outside the crowd of 200-plus chanted “Que se pudra” (May she rot!), police used horses to keep celebrators on sidewalks. Traffic officers worked to keep the parade moving.

The mood was much the same in Selena’s hometown of Corpus Christi.

Streams of Selena fans drove past her house on a busy street corner in a working class, predominantly Hispanic neighborhood.

Among them were sisters Yolanda Zapata of Corpus Christi and Del Maschke of Houston.

They described the mood as jubilant. Car horns sounded as television crews set up trucks and equipment for live shots. As the crowd grew larger, police blocked off the street.

Outside the Harris County courthouse, Frank Damian, 51, of Houston wept. “I had tears. I couldn’t hold them in. It’s a very, very good feeling. She took a life, and she got life,” Damian said.

David Dominguez, 34, of Houston, considers it a death sentence.

“She won’t be in there for long,” Dominguez said. “I’m pretty sure Selena had a few friends in there (in prison). They’ll probably wind up killing her (Saldivar).”

Some had mixed feelings.

“It’s sad, but it’s good,” said Tanya Arreola. “I think she should have got 40 years because life is a long time to be away from her family.”

Lead defense attorney Douglas Tinker said he understood the reaction of the crowd, although he didn’t agree with it. “It (the noise) tells me the people blowing the horns are pleased with the verdict,” he said. “Those people were not in the trial.”