Prosecution, defense attorneys dispute evidence in second day of murder trial

The murder trial of Leonel Hernandez started an hour later than expected Friday as the court waited for a last-minute witness to arrive from Albuquerque.

Hernandez is accused of the June 11, 2016 murder of Richard Madrigal, 32, who was known as DJ Mardi Gras on the radio station KLAQ.

The witness from Albuquerque, Debbie Ball, owns a store that makes and sells candies that resemble the blue meth crystals from the popular TV show “Breaking Bad.”

At issue was whether evidence found in Madrigal’s home and shown in photographs to the jury was drugs or candy from The Bad Candy Lady.

Ball brought a bag and a brochure with her logo to the court, and was adamant that the items in the pictures were her candies.

“It’s obvious that this man was a big fan of Breaking Bad,” she said after seeing a picture presented by the defense.

Defense attorney William Cox questioned whether Ball could tell the difference between her candies and real drugs, adding that there are many drugs that are made to look like actual items.

“I pretty much do,” said Ball. “You can’t make that color blue. It’s sprayed on.”

The prosecutor Stacy Scofield pointed out that her bag was in the photograph next to the bagged blue crystals.

In other testimony, Judge Marcos Lizárraga allowed Enrique Granillo back on the stand Friday. Thursday evening, Lizárraga abruptly brought an end to testimony by the El Paso Police Department blood splatter expert after Granillo offered more information to the court than which he was asked by the prosecution. The judge admonished Granillo Thursday night and Friday morning and reminded him to stick to answering the questions that are asked.

Friday, Granillo explained that Madrigal was standing when he was shot, and even demonstrated before the jury how Madrigal may have fallen down based on the placement of drops of blood at the scene.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to the murder.