Defense alleges victim in capital murder trial abused mother

EDINBURG — Defense attorneys in a capital murder trial here went on the offensive Tuesday, alleging that one of the victims had an abusive history toward his mother, who was paralyzed and diabetic. But multiple witnesses denied there ever being physical abuse.

Defendant Gabriel Keith Escalante, 43, is accused of beating his friend, Alejandro Salinas, 53, to death and asphyxiating his mother, Olivia Salinas, 73, for money they would’ve received from a lawsuit settlement. He’s also accused of cleaning the scene of the crime with Clorox together with his girlfriend, Irene Navejar, 44.

Escalante and Navejar were charged with capital murder of multiple persons and tampering with evidence with intent to impair.

Both have pleaded not guilty.

The argument that Alejandro was abusive toward his mother stemmed from a criminal complaint affidavit that described their relationship as “rocky,” which Elda Lara and Rolando Salinas, Olivia’s surviving children, testified was inaccurate.

Both complained about the police involvement in the case, saying they had addressed the statements to the detectives but were told it would be OK so long as they signed the form.

In addition, Lara complained she was never attended to when she went to the police station the Saturday morning her family’s bodies were found, and that the siblings didn’t know police had found two bodies until much later.

According to both testimonies, the family was kept in the dark.

However, both agreed that Alejandro was verbally abusive toward Olivia and Rolando admitted that his brother would often threaten him – placing a knife to his throat once.

Regardless, Rolando was adamant that his brother loved his mother and would never hurt her.

A family friend, Eloy Villarreal, who would often help Alejandro around the property with odd jobs, testified Tuesday and described the relationship as humorous.

“It was a funny relationship,” Villarreal said. “They would argue a lot but then they’d be sitting on the porch like nothing happened.”

Without the jury present, arguments also arose over a charge involving an altercation in which Escalante allegedly punched Alejandro prior to his death, which Villarreal said Alejandro told him about later.

The defense argued that prosecutors couldn’t use the previous charge in court claiming hearsay.

Additionally, a second juror was dismissed due to appearing to have his eyes closed during testimony Monday. The first was dismissed due to medical reasons, also on Monday. The court has used both alternate jurors.

Testimony will continue Wednesday.