FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The trial of Guillermo Perez and Alejandra Munoz continued Friday with testimony from multiple defense witnesses in the case stemming from the 2022 shooting death of 70-year-old Richard Martin.<\/p>\n
Perez and Munoz are charged in the killing of Martin, who was shot while sitting inside his car at the FreshCo Foods shopping center at Shields and Brawley avenues on May 17, 2022.<\/p>\n
The defense called at least five witnesses to the stand Friday morning, including Munoz’s brother. He testified that he does not speak with his sister often and does not know much about Perez.<\/p>\n
During questioning, prosecutors asked about Perez’s past work for the brother.<\/p>\n
“Perez worked for you at times and helped?” said prosecutors.<\/p>\n
“A long time ago, once,” said Munoz’s brother.<\/p>\n
Fresno Police Detective Ryan Rockwell, the lead detective in the case, also testified. Rockwell has said Perez was on rollerblades when he shot and killed Martin and that Munoz was driving the car Perez exited before the gunfire.<\/p>\n
Rockwell said surveillance video from the shopping center parking lot, which was shown in court Thursday, is part of the evidence in the case.<\/p>\n
Defense attorneys argued there is more to the story, saying Munoz was at the location to buy drugs.<\/p>\n
During cross-examination, Rockwell acknowledged that account.<\/p>\n
“Alejandra told you that night she was there to buy drugs, not to kill anyone, correct?” Defense attorneys asked.<\/p>\n
“Correct,” Rockwell said.<\/p>\n
Rockwell has testified that his theory of the killing involves an $850,000 payment Martin had verbally agreed to accept to settle a civil lawsuit against his former employer just days before his death.<\/p>\n
Martin’s former employer was also Munoz’s former employer.<\/p>\n
A financial crimes unit detective also testified, describing multiple warrants and an extensive investigation aimed at finding any link between Munoz and large sums of money from her former employer.<\/p>\n
In court, the detective was asked about the timeline of that investigation.<\/p>\n
“The information you received caused you to believe that settlement had been reached before you started the investigation?” Defense attorneys asked.<\/p>\n
“Correct,” the detective responded.<\/p>\n
“And you started your investigation in June of 2022,” defense attorneys said.<\/p>\n
Rockwell stood by his conclusions under questioning from the defense, saying the evidence showed planning before the shooting.<\/p>\n
“Clearly there was a plan, your client was in and out of that area multiple times leading up to the murder of Mr. Martin there was something planned there,” Rockwell said.<\/p>\n
“Do you know why?” the defense asked.<\/p>\n
“Yes, the murder of Mr. Martin,” Rockwell responded.<\/p>\n
The trial will continue on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
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