Accused Killer Who Was Arrested In Odessa Has Conviction Overturned
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: January 25, 2013
PORTALES, NM -- An accused New Mexico killer -- who was arrested in Odessa -- could face a new trial.
The 9th Judicial District Attorney for New Mexico -- Matthew Chandler -- told the Portales News-Tribune that he plans on re-trying Arnoldo Navarette for the a 1993 murder of Reynaldo Ornelas.
Navarette, 42, was on the run for 16 years after the deadly Portales shooting, but law enforcement arrested him in Odessa in June 2009.
Navarette was living under an alias at the time of his arrest.
A jury in Roosevelt County, NM found Navarette guilty of first degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charges in September 2010.
However, the New Mexico Supreme Court overturned the conviction on January 17th.
Justices mentioned in their decision that Navarette wasn't allowed to confront a witness at trial.
The 9th Judicial District Attorney for New Mexico -- Matthew Chandler -- told the Portales News-Tribune that he plans on re-trying Arnoldo Navarette for the a 1993 murder of Reynaldo Ornelas.
Navarette, 42, was on the run for 16 years after the deadly Portales shooting, but law enforcement arrested him in Odessa in June 2009.
Navarette was living under an alias at the time of his arrest.
A jury in Roosevelt County, NM found Navarette guilty of first degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charges in September 2010.
However, the New Mexico Supreme Court overturned the conviction on January 17th.
Justices mentioned in their decision that Navarette wasn't allowed to confront a witness at trial.
