Defense Claims Mental Deficiency in Martinez Guzman Murder Case

Lawyers for Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman say they plan to file a motion to have him declared mentally disabled. Martinez-Guzman, accused of murdering four people in Northern Nevada, appeared for a status check Monday. Public defender, John Arrascada, notified the court Martinez-Guzman’s IQ is 66 and may be lower by other measuring standards. They are planning a trip to El Salvador to look into his background, and are planning to perform more mental tests on their client. No decision has been made on an appeal to the state Supreme Court to overturn the judge’s ruling upholding a grand jury’s authority to indict Martinez-Guzman in Reno for two of the fatal shootings outside the county. On Monday, his lawyers did not ask for a stay, but are not waiving their right to one. The judge is asking all pretrial issues be resolved by November 2019. Martinez-Guzman’s next status hearing is scheduled for August 26th.