Man on trial in 2024 stabbing death claims self defense

A man on trial in the 2024 stabbing death of Luis Romero acted in self-defense when attacked by the angry, larger man, an attorney for Juan Carlos Garcia told jurors Monday.

Garcia, 25, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Romero twice in the back during a dispute over stolen money, a prosecutor said in opening statements at Garcia’s trial.

The 2nd Judicial District Court trial is scheduled to continue through Friday before Judge Brett Loveless.

Garcia’s attorney, Javier Amaya, told jurors that Romero had stayed in Garcia’s apartment two days before the killing at the invitation of one of Garcia’s roommates.

The next morning, Garcia realized he was missing $300 and told others that Romero had stolen the money, Amaya said.

On April 7, 2024, the day of the killing, Romero showed up at Garcia’s apartment and was angry that Garcia had accused him of stealing $300, Amaya told jurors.

“A fight took place and Juan Carlos (Garcia) had to defend himself,” Amaya said. Garcia was waiting for a ride to church that morning and had not expected Romero to show up at the apartment, he said.

The day of the killing, Albuquerque police received a report from Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital that Romero had been dropped off with fatal wounds and that the men who drove him to the hospital had driven away, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metro Court. Romero died at the hospital.

Officers also received a report that day from Garcia’s neighbors that a man had been seriously injured at an apartment complex in the 12800 block of Dorado SE, near Central and Tramway, the complaint said.

When police arrived, they saw a trail of blood leading to Garcia’s second-floor apartment and found a bloody kitchen knife in the living room, it said.

Prosecutor Genia Gonzales said in opening statements that Garcia admitted stabbing Romero during an interview with detectives. The stabbing occurred following a fight between between the two men inside the apartment, she said.

“They had each other in headlocks, then they got pulled apart,” Gonzales told jurors. “And then, (Garcia) went to the kitchen, after he was pulled apart, and got a knife” and stabbed Romero, she said.

An autopsy found that one of the two stab wounds cracked a rib in Romero’s back, Gonzales said.

Video from a surveillance camera outside the apartment building showed Romero stumbling down the apartment stairs, then collapse on the ground, according to the criminal complaint. Neighbors told police that two men followed Romero down the stairs and placed him in a car, it said.