Jury Hunt in Apodaca Murder Case | Santa Fe News

The murder trial for Isaac Apodaca is heating up next week, with jury selection already underway amid intense media buzz. Accused of convincing his then-girlfriend to kill a 21-year-old woman with a sword in 2022, Apodaca faces a case steeped in a twisted love triangle and allegations of psychological control. Lawyers are testing jurors’ biases by referencing pop culture icons like Garth Brooks and Jay-Z, probing whether jurors might unfairly judge based on reputation. A major legal twist: a judge has ruled that evidence of Apodaca’s alleged past abuse and exploitation of his ex-girlfriend—including her sex work—is admissible to show his coercive behavior. This “propensity evidence” is controversial, as it pushes jurors beyond the facts of the current case, but the court insists it’s vital to prove the state’s theory of manipulation. With two panels of 70 potential jurors each, the real challenge is finding a dozen who can set aside the noise and decide solely on courtroom evidence. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4d71a7137eaeb9e7