Osvaldo Cruz is a fourteen year old boy the prosecution uses as a witness against King and Harmon in the murder/robbery trial. Cruz, during his testimony, states that his involvement in the trail only happened because Bobo told him that if he did not help in the robbery he would cut him. Cruz also stated that Bobo threatened to do the same to his (Cruz's) mother. Cruz states that Bobo had the robbery all planned out. That he (Bobo) and King would go in to rob the store and that Cruz simply had to slow anyone down that came out after them. Cruz states:
All I had to do was to slow anybody down who came out after them. I was going to push a garbage can in front of them.
Cruz also testifies that Steve Harmon was going to be the look-out. After his testimony regarding the crime, Steve's...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
lawyer (O'Brien) gets Cruz to admit that he belongs to a gang called the Diablos and that he cut someone in the face as his initiation into the gang.
Who is Osvaldo Cruz in the novel Monster?
Osvaldo Cruz is a fourteen-year-old neighborhood gang member who participates in the robbery of a local corner store. Osvaldo testifies during the trial that James King, Richard "Bobo" Evans, and Steve Harmon were all in collaboration and participated in the crime. Osvaldo mentions that the only reason he agreed to participate in the robbery was because he felt threatened by Bobo. Osvaldo's job during the robbery was to stand outside of the store and throw a garbage can in the way of anyone attempting to catch James and Richard. Osvaldo also comments that Steve Harmon's role was the lookout. When Kathy O'Brien cross-examines Osvaldo, she reveals his violent, immoral character and he admits that he had to cut an innocent person's face in order to join the Diablos. Osvaldo Cruz may be telling the truth about the people who participated in the robbery, but the jury views him as an unreliable witness who is simply benefiting from testifying.