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Texas: Capital murder trial begins after 'popular dentist was executed by a hitman paid for by her boyfriend's ex'

Brenda Delgado
Day one of alleged hitman Kristopher Love's capital murder trial began Monday with witnesses who know the woman accused of ordering him to make a kill testifying on behalf of the state.   

Two people who jealous ex-girlfriend Brenda Delgado approached to carry out a hit on her former boyfriend's new love took to the stand against her in court, admitting she offered them money and a new car to kill Kendra Hatcher.

Texas dentist Kendra Hatcher was allegedly shot in the head by Kristopher Love, 33, in the Dallas garage of her apartment block on September 2, 2015.

Police say Delgado, 34, ordered her murder and one of the people who took to the stand on the first day of trial was a family member of Delgado. 

The witness accounts detailed how Delgado inquired about her ex Ricardo Paniagua being murdered, reports NBCDFW.com.

'She said she wanted me to hit [Hatcher] with a bat,' Moses Martinez said. 'And that's when I told her I didn't want to do that, hurt somebody innocent.'

Jennifer Escobar said Delgado 'had so many ways' to 'follow around Hatcher and basically eliminate her'.

Lead prosecutor Kevin Brooks said how 'after [Paniagua] broke it off with Brenda, she could not let go. You'll see evidence that Brenda started following him'.

Paniagua claimed that after he ended their two-and-a-half year relationship in February 2015, she tracked his movements and stalked anyone he dated.

Kristopher Love
'I would go running at the Katy Trail and sometimes when I was running she would be running the opposite direction,' Paniagua claimed.

Brooks says Delgado then quickly came to the decision she wanted Kendra killed after she could see that relationship was progressing.

Delgado, who is both a US and Mexican citizen, is accused of hiring Love to commit the deadly act. Police also say Delgado convinced friend, Chrystal Cortes, to drive the getaway car.

Delgado was arrested by Mexican authorities in April after fleeing there after initial interviews. She arrived back in the US earlier this month.

At the time Dallas Morning News reported she was likely to be escorted by marshals on the flight before being taken straight to the Dallas County Jail.

She is unlikely to face the death penalty as a condition of her extradition, because Mexico is opposed to capital punishment. 

Day 2 continues Tuesday. Delgado will have her own trial at a later date.

Dallas County has not sent anyone to death row since 2013. 

Source: Mail Online, Leah Simpson, October 23, 2018


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