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Defense attorneys on Thursday morning proved a key eyewitness in a murder case against a 31-year-old Weslaco man lied about a supposed jailhouse visit in which the defendant confessed to being high on meth when he killed her little brother. The significant development came as the defense presented its only witness, a Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant who brought records of Victor Lee Alfaro’s jailhouse visits dating back to his May 5, 2016 arrest. None of which included a visit by 32-year-old Nancy Arlene Lopez, the key eyewitness in question.
Alfaro is accused of shooting and killing Lopez’s little brother, 21-year-old Reynaldo Reyes Jr., at the Edinburg apartment they all shared May 4, 2016. Lopez testified earlier Tuesday that she informed Edinburg police investigators of the supposed jailhouse confession immediately after her alleged visit with Alfaro in late 2016.
During closing arguments, defense attorney Hector Hernandez Jr. highlighted Lopez’s lie on the stand, while also pointing out other inconsistencies in her testimony. Hernandez also told jurors to pay attention to the lack of physical evidence linking Alfaro to the crime scene. He also highlighted Lopez’s long criminal history. Prosecutor Jay Garza, however, told jurors during closing arguments that Alfaro’s defense team sought to distract from their client’s guilt and instead pointed the finger at Lopez and Edinburg police investigators.
Garza said, it’s true Lopez is a bad person, there are inconsistencies in the testimony. However, the prosecutor reminded jurors that the big picture elements of her story to police never changed. Garza also said Lopez stayed at the scene and cooperated with police, while Alfaro fled. His fate is now in the hands of the jury, which began deliberating shortly after noon Thursday.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
Second murder trial begins for Weslaco man accused of killing ex’s brother
Tense testimony: Suspect’s former lover accuses him of killing her little brother
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