Scene of the crime
Jurors tour hotel where deputy is accused of killing fellow officer in Cruces
LAS CRUCES — On the second day of the retrial of Tai Chan — the former Santa Fe sheriff’s deputy accused of murder — attorneys delivered their opening statements, the first witnesses took the stand and jurors toured the scene of the crime at the Hotel Encanto.
Chan stands accused of murdering law enforcement partner Jeremy Martin, a 29-year-old deputy, on Oct. 28, 2014. The defense claims Chan, 30, killed Martin in selfdefense after an assault.
“The facts in this case will show there is only one victim in this case, one and only one: Jeremy Martin,” District Attorney Mark D’Antonio said in his opening statement in 3rd Judicial District Court. “Bang, bang, bang. The shots
were rhythmic, methodical and accurate.”
Defense attorney Tom Clark said, “This is a selfdefense case, one man defending himself against another man: two young cops in a life-or-death struggle.”
This is the second trial of Chan on first-degree murder. The first trial ended in a hung jury in June last year.
Text messages discussed
Following the attorneys’ statements, and with the jury in recess, a discussion ensued between sides and District Judge Fernando Macias over whether to admit a cache of text messages found on Martin’s cell phone.
Prosecutors argued that Martin’s texts to his widow, Sarah, the day of the incident would show that he never mentions a conflict with Chan, assistant district attorney Kelly Herson told the judge.
Defense attorney Monnica Garcia argued that, besides the texts with his wife, Martin’s phone contained a “vault” of communications with other women and men that allegedly reveal “a secret life.”
“I’m sure (his wife) didn’t know that he was having these affairs and sending these other messages,” Garcia said. “The jury shouldn’t be left to think that this was it.”
Herson called Garcia’s statements “salacious” and “untrue facts.”
“There is absolutely no evidence of any other text messages or of any other relationships,” Herson said.
Jurors tour scene
Martin and Chan planned to stay overnight in Las Cruces in October 2014 after transporting a prisoner to Arizona.
Once off duty, the men went out drinking, met friends and returned to the hotel, room 711.
What transpired next, what led to Chan firing multiple rounds that struck Martin from behind, is the subject of the arguments in the case.
The 15-member jury, including a dozen women and three men, toured the scene of the crime at the Hotel Encanto on Tuesday for roughly an hour and a half. Three of the jurors serve as alternates.
The trial is scheduled to last two weeks. Jurors are expected to hear the testimony of dozens of witnesses and see hundreds of exhibits.
Members of the Martin and Chan families sat on either end of the court’s front bench as the first witnesses took the stand.