THE TRIAL OF FABIAN GONZALES, CHARGED WITH CHILD ABUSE RESULTING IN DEATH IN THE BRUTAL MURDER OF YOUNG VICTORIA MARTENS, WAS TO BEGIN IN MID-OCTOBER. BUT NOW THAT WON’T HAPPEN. DISTRICT JUDGE CHARLES BROWN HAS PUT THE TRIAL ON HOLD INDEFINITELY. THAT AFTER PROSECUTORS APPEALED HIS DECISION TO EXCLUDE EVIDENCE OF DRUG USE BY GONZALES AND HIS COUSIN, CO-DEFENDANT JESSICA KELLEY.
BROWN SAYS THE TRIAL CAN BEGIN ONCE THERE’S A DECISION FROM THE NEW MEXICO COURT OF APPEALS.
THE VICTIM’S MOTHER, MICHELLE MARTENS, HAS ALREADY PLED GUILTY TO CHILD ABUSE RESULTING IN DEATH IN HER DAUGHTER’S MURDER IN 2016.
