Andrade Murder Trial: McDonald Takes The Stand

By Ashlie Hardway

EL PASO — Defendant Terry McDonald took the stand Tuesday to recount his version of events that ended with the death of Felipe Andrade.

The 27-year-old McDonald described for jurors how on the night before Andrade’s death,the twowere drinking atMcdonald’s home in Central El Paso. He said the next morning, Andrade attacked him and that he acted in self-defense.

McDonald recounted how his 62-year-old roommate often harassed him and urged him to perform sexual acts, which he refused.

When he did, McDonald testified, Andrade often became belligerent and violent. When Andrade died, McDonald said, the two were involved in a brief altercation, falling to the ground.

“I came to the realization that ‘He’s not breathing,’ but I didn’t think he was dead,” McDonald testified.

He did not testify that he strangled Andrade as is alleged by the prosecution, though the autopsy report for Andrade indicated the cause of death as asphyxiation.

McDonald admitted he dug a grave in his own front yard and buried Andrade, nearly 12 hours after the fight. He said in hindsight, “Maybe the mistake I made in burying him was bad.”