Trial begins for Hatch man accused of killing ex's boyfriend
LAS CRUCES - A Hatch man on trial for murder is accused of killing his ex-partner's boyfriend after the two argued over who would load children's bicycles into a vehicle.
Salvador Gonzales, 36, is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of Juan Ruiz Flores. Both charges stem from a 2020 stabbing in Hatch. Gonzales, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, began his trial with jury selection Monday morning.
Deputies from the Doña Ana County Sheriff's office accuse Gonzales of stabbing his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend on April 25, 2020. In an affidavit, DASO criminal investigator Juan Vasquez said that the incident began after Gonzales purchased new bikes for his children.
According to Vasquez, Gonzales' ex-partner, the mother of their children, came to pick up her kids from Gonzales' home in Hatch. Flores traveled with Gonzales' ex-partner to the home. Flores then loaded the new bikes into his truck after Gonzales would not, according to Gonzales' ex-partner.
Flores and Gonzales then exchanged words, started to argue, and got into a fistfight, the affidavit stated. Gonzales then pulled out a knife and stabbed Flores, according to police.
In the affidavit, Gonzales admitted to the stabbing but said it was in self-defense. He told police that Flores grabbed a two-by-four from the bed of his truck and struck him twice. Gonzales told police he then pulled out a knife from his pocket and stabbed Flores twice.
Flores was taken to a Las Cruces hospital before he died. After the incident, Gonzales was granted a $25,000 bond. Court records show that he bonded out in March 2021.
Murder or self-defense?
This week, the jury selected Monday will be asked to determine if Gonzales' actions warrant a murder conviction.
Among the 28 exhibits that prosecutors outlined in their final exhibit list is a bystander's video. According to the affidavit, the video shows the final few minutes of the confrontation and shows Gonzales holding a bloody knife.
Additionally, court records show prosecutors listed Gonzales' ex-partner and the bystander who recorded the incident as witnesses and planned to call them to the stand.
It's not clear if attorney Todd Holmes, who is representing Gonzales, planned on presenting any witnesses or exhibits According to an order by 3rd Judicial Judge Douglas Driggers, the defense is barred from doing so after missing a deadline for submitting exhibits and witnesses to the court.
Gonzales' trial is scheduled to last until Jan. 21.
Justin Garcia is a public safety reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com or on Twitter @Just516garc.
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This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Trial begins for Hatch man accused of killing ex's boyfriend
