Prosecutor says jealousy moved suspect to kill romantic rival

Jealousy motivated Christopher Joseph Martinez to use his Ford Ranger pickup to fatally injure a rival last year at a West Side park, a prosecutor told jurors Monday on the first day of his trial.

Prosecutors contend that Martinez, 40, fatally injured Lincoln McKenna, 49, after McKenna came to the aid of a woman known to both the men.

Albuquerque police found McKenna lying seriously injured in the grass at Valley Neighborhood Park, 4000 San Isidro NW, about 2 a.m. on May 18, 2023. McKenna was riding a bicycle at the time he was struck. He died at a hospital 10 days later.

Attorneys made opening statements in Martinez’s first-degree murder trial in 2nd Judicial District Court. The trial is scheduled through Friday before Judge Courtney Weaks.

Martinez also is charged with tampering with evidence and leaving the scene of an accident.

Attorneys for both the defense and prosecution told jurors that the case against Martinez hinges on the testimony of Andrea Perea, who had a relationship with both men and witnessed the crash that seriously injured McKenna.

“Chris wanted to have a romantic relationship with Andrea,” prosecutor Collin Brennan said in opening statements. “Chris had a romantic relationship with Andrea, and that’s what led to him being jealous of Lincoln and eventually hitting him with this vehicle.”

Martinez’s attorney, Jacqueline Flores, countered that Martinez was not driving his truck at the time it struck McKenna.

Flores said in opening statements that Perea drove away in Martinez’s truck after the two argued at a McDonald’s restaurant a short time before McKenna was struck.

“We know that Christopher (Martinez) got out of the truck and Andrea (Perea) took off in that truck,” Flores told jurors. A witness is expected to testify seeing Martinez searching for his vehicle later.

Flores told jurors to remain skeptical about Perea’s testimony, who she said was in a sexual relationship with Martinez, McKenna and a third man, all of whom provided drugs for Perea.

Perea testified Monday that she saw Martinez intentionally strike McKenna with his vehicle following an argument between the two men at the park. She and Martinez had spent much of the day on May 17, 2023, visiting retail stores before the two began arguing at a McDonald’s restaurant shortly before midnight, she told jurors.

Martinez and Perea continued arguing after they parked next to a baseball field at the park, she testified. Perea said she became “irritated” because Martinez was yelling at her.

Perea also said she became frightened by Martinez’s behavior and sent text messages to McKenna and a second man asking for help.

McKenna arrived at the park riding a bicycle and began arguing with Martinez, she said. Perea got out of Martinez’s truck and began walking with McKenna west on Valley Pool Road NW.

Martinez then made a U-turn on Valley Pool Road and ran into McKenna at a high rate of speed, she told jurors. Martinez shouted “Who is the bitch now?” before driving away on San Isidro NW, Perea said.