Ballistic expert, hotel guest testify in Tai Chan Murder Trial

The jury in the Tai Chan murder trial learned what a guest at the Hotel Encanto heard the night of a deadly shooting.

Chan, a former Santa Fe County Deputy, is on trial a second time for the shooting death of his partner, Jeremy Martin.

Chan’s first trial in 2016 ended in a hung jury.

The first witness to testify Wednesday was a forensic ballistic expert. He tested the clothing Martin was wearing the night he was shot and killed.

Steve Guerra showed the jury the weapon used in the deadly shooting, a 357 Glock. Guerra said the rounds were fired at a distance no less than two feet.

Guerra also told juros the magazine holds 15 rounds and four unspent rounds were found in it after the shooting.

A guest spending the night in the room next to Chan’s room also testified, recalling the gunfire and commotion he heard that night.

“It just seemed there were two people in a heated face-to-face argument,” Edward Haselwood said. “That was quickly followed by a sound of disbelief: ‘oh my God. oh no.'”

Chan’s retrial resumes Thursday morning.