A 30-year-old man sentenced to life in prison for a fatal shooting outside a Westminster apartment complex will get a second trial after the Colorado Court of Appeals overturned his first-degree murder conviction.

Juan Manuel Castorena was convicted by an Adams County jury and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in August 2022, more than four years after police say he fatally shot Ricardo Rivas, 23, in a parking lot at the Village of Greenbriar Apartments, 8290 N. Federal Blvd.

The decision to reverse Castorena’s conviction hinged on one witness’ identification, which Castorena’s lawyers had previously tried to get suppressed from his trial.

According to court records, a Facebook account linked to Castorena sent a message to Rivas with instructions to meet

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