Doña Ana County murder conviction overturned by high court

The New Mexico Supreme Court has reversed the 2022 conviction of Cristal Cardenas, a Las Cruces woman previously found guilty of orchestrating the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Mario Cabral. This decision came from a divided court, highlighting significant contentions surrounding the original trial.

The tragic incident occurred on March 25, 2018, when both Cabral and Cardenas's former partner, Vanessa Mora, were shot at Mora's home in Garfield. At the time of the shooting, Mora’s teenage daughter was asleep in another room, which underscored the gravity and impact of the crime on the affected family.

Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Cardenas, dissatisfied with her relationship with Cabral, had attempted to hire a hitman to carry out the murder. Instead, she and her then-boyfriend, Luis Flores, took matters into their own hands, resulting in the fatal shooting of both Cabral and Mora.

The Supreme Court's ruling raises questions about the evidence and procedures used in Cardenas's trial, indicating that there may have been grounds for a misapplication of justice. As further details emerge, the implications of this decision will likely reverberate through the local legal landscape.

This ruling not only affects Cardenas but also reflects the complexities of the judicial process in high-stakes criminal cases. Observers and legal analysts will be closely monitoring the repercussions of this case.