Opening Statements Presented In Marmolejo Murder Trial; Defendant Cries

El Paso Police say he killed his mother over a girl. On Monday, David Marmolejo sat in a packed courtroom for day one of his murder trial.

And it didn’t take long for the state to present some grisly evidence in the homicide of Gloria Marmolejo.

That relationship, between David Marmolejo and Mariah Wilson – David’s stepsister and girlfriend at the time – is expected to be a major factor in the trial.

The defense is already trying to shift the attention away from David and onto Mariah and what they say is a weak investigation by police.

In opening statements, defense attorney Greg Anderson told the jury, “The police department failed to look at Mariah Wilson as a suspect. I’m not saying she did it, but they didn’t look at her. She had the motive and the opportunity.”

Anderson also said David was a known womanizer.

“David was a womanizer. Gloria didn’t approve, but being a womanizer doesn’t mean you’re a murderer,” Anderson said.

Jennifer Marmolejo, who is married to David’s brother, Manny, testified that Gloria Marmolejo did not get along with Wilson.

“She didn’t approve of the relationship. She wanted to sneak up on David. She thought Mariah was living with David and wanted to see if any of her belongings were at (Gloria’s) house,” Jennifer said on the stand.

Also taking the stand on Monday were several El Paso Police officers.

The defense repeatedly questioned their investigation, including why one officer failed to include an important statement about David’s last cell phone conversation with his mother.

Testimony also included how investigators found a shoelace tied to a net in the back of Gloria’s car, but a detective testified that he didn’t think they analyzed it for evidence.

But probably the most moving piece of evidence was when the prosecution displayed pictures of Gloria’s body in the desert.

The pictures showed her with her face planted in the sand, her head wrapped in a white plastic bag and her green shirt pulled up.

David did not look at the pictures but he did break down and cried.

He kept his head buried in his hands and wiped his tears away with a tissue.

The judge issued a gag order in the case preventing witnesses and attorneys involved in the case from talking to the media.