TIMELINE: Gabino Salinas Trial

State District Judge Rose Guerra Reyna sentenced 37-year-old Gabino Salinas to life without parole for the capital murder charge and two years for possession of marijuana.

A jury found Salinas guilty of murdering a 32-year-old Edinburg man.

Salinas killed Jose Angel Martinez after beating and dragging him with his white Jeep Grand Cherokee and eventually dismembering the man with the help of accomplices on Nov. 8, 2017.

Defendant Gabino Salinas talks to his lawyer O. Rene Flores in the Hidalgo County Courthouse on Monday, April 18, 2022, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

He was convicted of capital murder and possession of marijuana.

The conviction followed five days of testimony last week that featured 16 witnesses and more than 300 exhibits that were entered into evidence for the jury’s review.

Here’s the full coverage of the trial:

>> DAY ONE

Prosecutors alleged Monday that 37-year-old Gabino Salinas was the mastermind behind the 2017 kidnapping and murder of 32-year-old Jose Angel Martinez, who Salinas believed orchestrated an attack in which he lost a leg during a home invasion.

Salinas, who was 32 at the time of the crime, was charged with capital murder, possession of marijuana, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated kidnapping.

The details of that drug-fueled night were revealed through Ricardo Moreno’s testimony, who lived with Martinez and was also kidnapped and forced to commit atrocious acts of violence to Martinez’s body after he was deceased, including dismembering his roommate’s body.

Witness describes drug-fueled night of violence at start of 2017 Edinburg murder trial

>> DAY TWO

Salinas’ ex-wife, Maria Patino, testified that he had assaulted her the day of the killing during which Salinas dropped two live rounds and a small bag of cocaine that fell out of his pocket, though details of the assault were kept from the jury as the defense said it would “poison” his image.

Ex-wife says Edinburg murder suspect assaulted her after the alleged killing

Defendant Gabino Salinas listens to his sentence on capital murder from state District Judge Rose Guerra Reyna in the Hidalgo County Courthouse on Monday, April 18, 2022, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

>> DAY THREE

Jurors witnessed video evidence provided by a home in Edinburg which depicted a person being dragged by a vehicle down the road as well as bloody crime scene photos.

Evidence in revenge killing case reveals bloody crime scene

>> DAY FOUR

Forensic expert Norma Jean Farley, who conducted the autopsy on Martinez’s body, said on the fourth day of testimony in the trial it was impossible to determine the exact cause of death for Martinez because he was decapitated after his throat was slit.

Expert: Impossible to determine exact cause of death in 2017 Edinburg murder

>> DAY FIVE 

Both the state and defense rested their cases after a former customer of Martinez, Luis Miguel “Flaco” Garza, testified his experience the night of the killing, including how Salinas tried to force him to help in the crime before Garza was able to escape.

State District Judge Rose Guerra Reyna dropped two of Salinas’ initial charges of aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping due to “impossible” dates in the indictments.

Prosecutors, defense rest in 2017 Edinburg murder trial

Defendant Gabino Salinas removes his mask after being sentenced in the Hidalgo County Courthouse on Monday, April 18, 2022, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

>> JURY VERDICT

Salinas was found guilty on both counts of capital murder and possession of marijuana after about four hours of deliberation by the jury on April 12.

Alton man convicted of brutal murder to be sentenced Monday

>> SENTENCING

State District Judge Rose Guerra Reyna sentenced Salinas to life without parole for the capital murder charge and two years for possession of marijuana.

Alton man gets life without parole for 2017 ‘revenge’ killing