Pit5 Music News Cache

Fri Jul 6, 1:20 AM ET

MIAMI - A Latin songwriter said he begged for his life before his handyman shot and critically wounded him at his waterfront mansion, according to court documents.

Francisco Oliveira, 29, was charged with first-degree attempted murder in the May 25 shooting of Fabio Alonso Salgado, also known as Estefano. Police said Oliveira had worked for Salgado for five years and was delivering marijuana to him.

"I continued to beg for my life. He proceeded to kick me. He then put the gun behind my right ear and shot me in my head," Salgado said in a witness statement obtained by The Miami Herald.

The two men were sitting in the kitchen just before the shooting, Salgado said.

"I asked Francisco Oliveira if he was OK, because he seemed nervous to me. At that point in time, Francisco Oliveira reached into his backpack and removed a handgun," the statement said. 'He then asked me in Portuguese, `Do you know what this is?' He then pointed the gun at me and shot me in the chest."

Oliveira told Salgado to kneel and put the gun's barrel behind the songwriter's right ear and squeezed off one round, the statement said.

Salgado told authorities he later regained consciousness and called his business manager.

Salgado, who has worked with such Latin music stars as Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, Shakira, Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez, is still recovering from his injuries but has been released from the hospital.

Oliveira has entered a written plea of not guilty. A trial date is set for Nov. 5. He is being held without bond, said Miami-Dade County jail spokeswoman Janelle Hall.

The name of Oliveira's attorney was not immediately known. Salgado's home telephone number was not listed.