Trial ordered in execution of hip hop artist dumped in Barstow

BARSTOW — More than 20 friends and family members wearing T-shirts with the slogan “In loving memory of Robert Mastrangelo”  packed a Barstow courtroom Thursday to hear the initial facts in the case against one of two men accused of killing their loved one.

Judge John Gibson ruled that there is enough evidence to send Duzai Prosper Pswatai, 20, of Riverside, to trial on charges of murder, kidnapping, second degree robbery and solicitation of murder in connection with the execution-style shooting death of Robert Mastrangelo, a 24-year-old hip-hop artist from San Bernardino who went under the stage name “Self-Sufficient.”

Police are still seeking a second suspect, 23-year-old Jeffrey “Slutter” Berrouet.

Witnesses called to testify at Pswatai’s preliminary hearing Thursday said that Mastrangelo’s death stemmed from a drug deal and possible robbery attempt gone wrong. The hip hop artist was found in a ditch near Outlet Center Drive on June 14 with his feet tied and six bullet wounds, Barstow Police Detective Keith Libby testified.

Mastrangelo was last seen on June 11, when his sister dropped him off at a Burger King in Redlands, where he had arranged a meeting with Berrouet, Libby said. Witnesses interviewed by police indicated that Berrouet and Pswatai had intended to sell Mastrangelo fake Ecstacy pills.
A roommate of Berrouet’s told police that Berrouet and Pswatai took her car on June 11. When they returned, the roommate said that they were counting money and appeared agitated, Libby testified. The woman said that Pswatai asked for a rope to tie someone with. She gave him a belt from her terry-cloth bathrobe, which Libby said matched the material used to bind Mastrangelo’s feet.

Pswatai, who was arrested July 3, admitted that he and Berrouet held Mastrangelo against his will in the garage, where they tied his legs and pistol whipped or kicked him in the head, Libby said.

“He told me the victim was crying,” Libby said in court.

Pswatai never admitted to shooting Mastrangelo, however, said Deputy District Attorney Shannon Faherty.

A second witness, Arlene Flores, a friend of Berrouet’s, testified that she overheard the two suspects talking about the crime after the fact. Berrouet and Pswatai had initially intended to rob Mastrangelo but not kill him, said Flores, who characterized the murder as a drug deal gone bad.

Pswatai allegedly asked one of his relatives to kill Berrouet’s roommate, a potential witness in the case, Libby said. That allegation led to the charge of solicition of murder.

Mastrangelo’s cousin, Jon Mastrangelo of Long Beach, said that family members are still trying to piece together the details of Robert’s death.

“We don’t know what happened,” Jon said. “We don’t know why.”

The family is waiting anxiously for police to track down Berrouet, he said.

“Somebody knows where he’s at — they have to,” he said.

The defense questioned the witnesses on dates and facts but did not present its side of the case at the preliminary hearing. Family members of Pswatai who were present in court declined to comment.

Gibson deemed Pswatai, who is originally from Zimbabwe, to be a flight risk and set his bail at $3 million.

To report information on this or other crimes, call Barstow Police Department at 760-256-2211. To remain anonymous, call WE-TIP at 1-800-78-CRIME or leave information on the WeTip Web site at www.wetip.com.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or abby_sewell@link.freedom.com