As he wiped tears from his eyes and sweat from his brow, a former police officer from Albuquerque, who is accused of murdering his wife, testified on the witness stand. He offered an emotional testimony in his trial that has been marked by tales of sorted affairs.
The former officer, Levi Chavez, who is 32, admitted that he had numerous mistresses, searched a website to see how to kill someone using martial arts and ignored calls for help from his wife.
However, the former public servant vehemently denied that he murdered his wife Tera, who was 26.
Prosecutors accused Chavez of shooting his wife in October of 2007 with his own department issued handgun.
Chavez during testimony broke down frequently and needed breaks when recounting how he treated his late wife during their marriage.
The treatment included having sexual relationships with four women along with break ups with his wife throughout the term of their relationship that dated back to high school.
Chavez says he found Tera dead from a bullet wound.
Only two months following the death of his wife, Chavez married another police officer.
Chavez’s lawyer drew gasps from the courtroom, when he called his client to testify.
Closing arguments in this case, which is only tarnishing an already tarnished police department, will begin either Thursday or Friday.
The Albuquerque Police Department is being investigated for a number of police shootings and for the possible elimination of evidence, including flushing some down a toilet.
