Defense calls witnesses as trial continues in murder case involving roller skating gunman

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The proceedings of Guillermo Perez and Alejandra Munoz continued Friday with grounds from aggregate defence witnesses successful the lawsuit stemming from the 2022 shooting decease of 70-year-old Richard Martin.

Perez and Munoz are charged successful the sidesplitting of Martin, who was changeable portion sitting wrong his car astatine the FreshCo Foods buying halfway astatine Shields and Brawley avenues connected May 17, 2022.

The defence called astatine slightest 5 witnesses to the basal Friday morning, including Munoz's brother. He testified that helium does not talk with his sister often and does not cognize overmuch astir Perez.

During questioning, prosecutors asked astir Perez's past enactment for the brother.

"Perez worked for you astatine times and helped?" said prosecutors.

"A agelong clip ago, once," said Munoz's brother.

Fresno Police Detective Ryan Rockwell, the pb detective successful the case, besides testified. Rockwell has said Perez was connected rollerblades erstwhile helium changeable and killed Martin and that Munoz was driving the car Perez exited earlier the gunfire.

Rockwell said surveillance video from the buying halfway parking lot, which was shown successful tribunal Thursday, is portion of the grounds successful the case.

Defense attorneys argued determination is much to the story, saying Munoz was astatine the determination to bargain drugs.

During cross-examination, Rockwell acknowledged that account.

"Alejandra told you that nighttime she was determination to bargain drugs, not to termination anyone, correct?" Defense attorneys asked.

"Correct," Rockwell said.

Rockwell has testified that his mentation of the sidesplitting involves an $850,000 outgo Martin had verbally agreed to judge to settee a civilian suit against his erstwhile leader conscionable days earlier his death.

Martin's erstwhile leader was besides Munoz's erstwhile employer.

A fiscal crimes portion detective besides testified, describing aggregate warrants and an extended probe aimed astatine uncovering immoderate nexus betwixt Munoz and ample sums of wealth from her erstwhile employer.

In court, the detective was asked astir the timeline of that investigation.

"The accusation you received caused you to judge that colony had been reached earlier you started the investigation?" Defense attorneys asked.

"Correct," the detective responded.

"And you started your probe successful June of 2022," defence attorneys said.

Rockwell stood by his conclusions nether questioning from the defense, saying the grounds showed readying earlier the shooting.

"Clearly determination was a plan, your lawsuit was successful and retired of that country aggregate times starring up to the execution of Mr. Martin determination was thing planned there," Rockwell said.

"Do you cognize why?" the defence asked.

"Yes, the execution of Mr. Martin," Rockwell responded.

The proceedings volition proceed connected Monday morning.

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