California man confesses to 40 killings

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: SfGate

A suspected contract killer charged in Central California with killing nine people confessed to investigators that he carried out up to 40 slayings in a career spanning decades, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Errek Jett, the district attorney in Lawrence County, Ala., said that Jose Manuel Martinez, 51, told investigators he carried out the crimes working as an enforcer for a drug cartel. Jett said they believe Martinez because of the details he gave investigators.

Martinez was arrested last year shortly after crossing the border from Mexico into Arizona and sent to Alabama, where he awaits trial on one murder charge. Once word got out, a steady stream of investigators from across the country came to question Martinez, Jett said.

Defense attorney Thomas Turner, who represents Martinez in that lone case, said his client is eager to start a June trial in Alabama, so he can return to California. Turner said Martinez maintains his innocence to the charge there and doesn't seem to be a hardened killer.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/California-man-confesses-to-40-killings-5389163.php

[Sunlei]

1. must have been a small time 'drug cartel' if their 'enforcer' had to cross arizona desert by foot.

[Voice for Peace]

2. you don't get hardened till 41..

?

[Botany]

3. How can you tell if a lawyer is lying? His lips are moving.

"Turner said Martinez maintains his innocence to the charge there and doesn't seem to be a hardened killer."

[uppityperson]

4. is that necessary? There are a lot of good moral lawyers out there and it isn't cool to insult them

all. Defense attorneys are supposed to represent their clients. My cousin who works with affordable housing lies every time his mouth opens? My other cousin who works with environmental issues lies? Why insult all lawyers?

[Botany]

5. I know the lawyer was just doing what a lawyer does but when a man admits to 40 killings ....

... saying he isn't a "harden killer" is more then a little over the top.

[eggplant]

6. Any sentence using "was just" should stop before "but".

As in, "I know the lawyer was just doing what a lawyer does."

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. The word "but" I call the "eraser" word.

It erases all the words that came before it, so only the words after it are valid.
so in most sentences everything before "but" can be ignored.

[uppityperson]

8. Which translates to you can tell when a lawyer is lying as he is talking. Oh.

I agree what he said was oot. My complaint is the broadbrushing of lawyers.

[uppityperson]

10. I will make sure to tell my cousin who works with affordable housing issues that she is dishonest

I am sure she will snort and roll her eyes at the prejudging. It is too bad that you have not ever had contact with an honest lawyer as they are very common and work in all sorts of areas.

[Botany]

12. That would be the smart thing to do ..... bug her about some random comment on "the internets"

[uppityperson]

13. I did not think the sarcasm smilie was needed. You proved me wrong.