Albuquerque Murder Trial: Man Accused of Killing Ex-Girlfriend Takes the Stand
A man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend in 2022 took the witness stand on Friday, leading to tense exchanges in court.
Jonathan Martinez, 24, is facing charges in the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Yasmin Marquez, who went missing in 2022. Her mother reported her disappearance, and two months later, the 20-year-old’s body was found in a burned car in Sandoval County.
During his testimony, Martinez denied sending threatening messages, saying, “I didn’t send those texts. You can sit here and say I sent those text messages because you didn’t witness me send those text messages.” In response, the prosecution replied, “You know what? I don’t even have to witness it. This evidence is so clear of what you were doing in the car.”
Martinez told the jury the last time he saw Marquez, she was planning to meet other people. He also claimed he had lost his phone and insisted he was not responsible for sending the messages in question.
The prosecution presented cell phone evidence placing Martinez in the areas where both Marquez’s body and car were found. With his testimony complete, the jury is expected to hear closing arguments on Monday.
