Woman sentenced in neighbor’s death
41-year-old faces 16 years to life in deadly beating
SAN MATEO — A 41-year-old San Mateo woman who beat her neighbor to death with a baseball bat on July 4 was sentenced Thursday to 16 years to life in prison, according to prosecutors.
Brenda Martinez was convicted in August of second-degree murder in the death of Ellen Mackay, 66. Martinez killed her at Mackay’s North Claremont Street apartment on July 4, 2015, according to prosecutors.
The two got into an argument and Martinez grabbed an aluminum bat belonging to Mackay and hit her several times in the head, according to previous police reports. Martinez told authori- ties that Mackay w a s “mocking” her and criticizing her life choices, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Karen Guidotti.
Martinez was convicted on Aug. 9 when a jury took just half a day to deliberate, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said Martinez started to flee but ended up driving to the San Mateo Police Department, where she confessed to the killing and told officers where to find Mackay’s body.
Police say Martinez and Mackay were friends, and neighbors of the women told reporters that they were longtime residents of the area and were frequently seen together.