El Paso man accused of murder testifies in his own trial, cites beliefs on abortion, ‘satanic’ rituals

UPDATE -- Both the Defense and the Prosecution questioned Joseph Alvarez for hours in Wednesday's murder trial.

He was asked about Memorial Park, and said he believed it was used as a place for "satanic rituals" and child sacrifices.

He says the trees that grew at Memorial Park were not normal, and pointed him towards the neighborhood that the victims lived.

He was asked what happened on the night of November 14th, 2020, and he said he approached the street in his car, with a Glock 22 inside of a pizza box.

He said the first house he went to, he knocked on the door, and nobody answered.

He said he went back to his car, and prayed to God for a sign. That's when he said he saw an SUV park at the second home, the home of the victim.

He said he approached the woman, who he said he did not know, and shot her three times.

He said he then tried to enter the house, and shot a man.

He then left, and returned home.

Alvarez's attorney, Greg Anderson, asked him directly, if he believed he did anything wrong.

Alvarez simply replied, "No, I don't believe so."

Prosecutors showed dozens of emails he wrote to politicians, pastors, coworkers and people he knew, with graphic discussion of his beliefs on the evils of abortions.

Alvarez told the jury he first started having ideas about sex and abortions when he was told coworkers of his at a national airline were having sex in his office when he wasn't there. The defendant said that's when he reported to a supervisor.

He also said he prayed over "holy matrimony" and approached a female coworker of his, and asked if she was a believer and was faithful. He told the jury that's why he was fired from his job in February of 2020.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Defense called Joseph Alvarez to the stand to testifying on his own behalf in court Wednesday morning. Alvarez is accused of killing Georgette Kaufmann, a Texas assistant attorney general, in her garage when she came home from work, and seriously wounding her husband, Daniel Kaufmann.

Alvarez spoke about his devout faith and revelations that he says he received from God. He also said he received revelations about abortion and pre-marital sex.

He was asked about images he called “satanic” and “blasphemous”. He explained to the courtroom his revelations about how the images depicted abortions, which he says is a satanic ritual.

He cites much of his knowledge from the Bible and the Book of Enoch.

He remained on the stand for around two hours, leading to the court’s break for lunch.

The Prosecution had both a digital and physical forensic expert testify to begin Wednesday’s proceedings.

Cathey Serrano, a Texas DPS forensic analyst, was asked about her finding when conducting research on a Glock 22 firearm.

Serrano says, as was included in her report shown to the courtroom, that the DNA found on the gun’s trigger, magazine, grip and silver thread protected showed a high probability that Joseph Alvarez was a possible contributor.