Trial Begins For EP Man Accused Of Murder
EL PASO, TX. – The prosecutionbegins presentingits case Monday morningagainst an El paso man accused of murder.
The defense opted to delay their opening statements, but prosecutors wasted no time, describing in the detail, the relationship between Richard Flores and Maria Luisa Corral. They go on to describe Maria Luisa as ‘the perfect victim’ for domesticabuse, saying thatshe was easily persuaded by Flores and yet, like manyvictims of domestic violence, had left him many times only to return.
Today, the prosecution’s first witness, Maria’s mother, Mary Eloisa Corral, took the stand. She said she heard Flores threaten her daughter’s life. She said Maria had a “a very ugly life with her boyfriend. He beat her.”
On the stand, Mary Corral said, “I heard him say, ‘If you don’t come back home with me, I’m going to kill you.’ ” She said she was happy when her daughter had finally made up her mind to leave Flores for good until one night in April 2005. That’s when Maria opted for a night out at Margarita’s night club with a friend. After a few hours, said the friend, the pair grew bored and Maria asked to be dropped off at Flores’ house where he was having a birthday party.
That evening, prosecutors contend, is when the two were intimate and then soon after, began arguing. Flores allegedly bound Maria’s wrists, ankles and taped her mouth, strangling her with an extension cord. According to prosecutors, two of Flores’ friends allegedlyhelped him put Maria’s body in a plastic bagand then the group fled to Mexico. Maria Corral was found dead in her home in April of 2005.
Both the prosecution and defense teams have abouta dozenwitnesses that they plan to call during the trial, so it is expected to last the entire week.
