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BROWNSVILLE — Both the state and defense rested Thursday following testimony from the wife of a San Benito police officer who was killed after being shot by a 21-year-old man during a high speed car chase three years ago.
Lt. Milton Resendez’s wife, Melissa Resendez, testified on the fourth day of testimony in the sentencing phase of Rogelio Martinez Jr.’s trial.
At this time, the judge is charging the jury following the reading of the jury charge.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys will give their closing arguments.
Then, deliberations on whether Martinez will be sentenced to death will begin.
The jury previously found Martinez guilty of murdering Resendez on Oct. 8, following three hours and 15 minutes of deliberations.
Resendez was killed Oct. 17, 2023 following an hourslong pursuit that stretched from South Padre Island to Brownsville to San Benito, where the 27-year veteran of the city’s police department was shot.
Martinez’s co-defendant, 26-year-old Mexican national Rodrigo Axel Espinosa Valdez, previously pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of murder. Martinez, meanwhile, pleaded not guilty.
Testimony throughout the sentencing phase that began Monday featured various doctors and Martinez’s family members, which defense attorney Rigo Flores said their testimony would show the jury that there is sufficient mitigation for Martinez to serve life in prison without parole.
On Wednesday, jurors witnessed a dramatic exchange between Martinez’s aunt, Victoria Ortiz, and Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz. Ortiz said she disagreed with the jurors’ verdict while Saenz accused her of being dishonest.
Dr. Yenys Castillo, a clinical forensic psychologist who had conducted interviews with Martinez including one on Tuesday, also took the stand Wednesday to explain why the man was seen smiling outside the presence of the jury.
According to the doctor, who testified he was tearing up as he explained it to her, Martinez said he smiles when he sees his family members in the audience since it’s the only time he can see them, but that he felt conflicted about it and tries not to look at Resendez’s family because he feels bad.
On Tuesday, jurors were informed of Martinez’s upbringing, which included a host of problems such as mental illness, abuse, neglect and poverty.
Dr. Antolin Llorente, a court-appointed neuropsychologist who evaluated Martinez, told the jury records show the man had more than 75 interactions with Child Protective Services, starting when he was just 4 months old.
The jury also heard from Maria Granados, Martinez’s aunt and Ortiz’s sister, who testified of the difficult, neglectful and abusive upbringing she and her siblings endured from Martinez’s grandmother, Martha Gonzalez.
This is a developing story.