An attorney representing the man accused of causing a state trooper’s death in 2019 fell ill Wednesday morning, resulting in the judge resetting an important procedural pre-trial hearing for a second time.
Jaime Aleman, the second chair defense attorney appointed to represent Victor Alejandro Godinez, 27, who is facing the death penalty for allegedly shooting and killing Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Moises Sanchez, 48, told the court Godinez’s first chair attorney was sick.
Aleman told state District Judge Letty Lopez that his partner thought it best to leave the courthouse that morning due to how he was feeling and asked for an extension.
Lopez reminded Aleman that the parties were supposed to go over what’s called motions in limine, which are filed by the state and defense. These motions set the ground rules regarding what a jury can hear during a trial and what types of arguments are allowed, among other things.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Lopez echoed prior statements she made months ago regarding the new courthouse and how its opening is still up in the air, but stated she had “no doubt” in her mind that Godinez’s case would go to trial this year, whether it be in the new courthouse or not.
Godinez is charged with capital murder of a peace officer and two counts of attempted capital murder of a peace officer after he allegedly shot at two Edinburg police officers.
Sanchez died on Aug. 24, 2019, following a surgery months after his encounter with Godinez who was allegedly fleeing the scene of a car crash and shot Sanchez once in the shoulder and head with a .357 magnum once the trooper caught up to him, according to authorities.
Godinez was apprehended sometime after 12:30 a.m. on April 6, 2019, east of Mon Mack Road and State Highway 107 in Edinburg following a manhunt led by several law enforcement agencies which included federal, state and local departments.
He allegedly shot at two Edinburg police officers in the 1500 block of South Maltese. They were not hit.
Lopez reset Godinez’s hearing until March.
He remains jailed at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on $3 million in bonds.
