Lead detective on Victoria Martens case testifies in Fabian Gonzales trial

To watch Day 8 of testimony, here is part one and part two.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In court Friday, the lead homicide detective on the Victoria Martens case went over what Fabian Gonzales had to say in the hours after the 10-year-old was strangled to death.

Detective Josh Brown also had to answer questions about the interview tactics police used when they asked Gonzales what happened that night.

Jurors heard and saw recorded clips of Gonzales getting interviewed. Both the state and the defense honed in on certain aspects of these interviews.

Gonzales’ defense was critical of the tactics used when police interrogated him. In some instances, they said police offered information to lead to an inaccurate statement.

In other instances, they said they put undue pressure on Gonzales to force him to say something that may not be true.

However, the state pointed out that Gonzales used bizarre words – like characterizing Jessica Kelley, his cousin who was left alone with Victoria, as “fishy.” The state also said Gonzales was not able to give a linear story from start to finish.

The state also highlighted how the timeline of events Gonzales provided omitted certain times, and that his story eventually changed. He mentioned how Victoria was cut in the “middle” even though he acted, at first, like he was unaware Victoria was dead at all.

Sgt. Joshua Brown: “He says, ‘Oh, what I’m saying is, I seen it happen. I just didn’t want to admit to it right away, but I didn’t have no part of it. But yes, I did see it, but I got threatened with my life.'”

On Friday afternoon, the state called a forensic fingerprint analyst to the stand – and they still have a number of witnesses to call until they rest their case. The trial is expected to last through next week.