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Alleged murder weapon used in DPS trooper’s shooting shown in court

By: Christian von Preysing

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The trial of Victor Godinez resumed Wednesday, with prosecutors resuming his nearly four hour-long taped interview that was recorded the morning after the 2019 shooting.

Godinez is charged in the death of Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Moises Sanchez, who prosecutors say was shot by Godinez in April 2019 after Sanchez responded to a crash caused by Godinez near 10th Street and Freddy Gonzalez Drive.

Sanchez died four months later while recovering at a Houston hospital.

Godinez also faces two counts of attempted capital murder of a peace officer.

In the tape, Godinez is seen telling ATF agents about the firearms he had back at his mom's house.

The firearms included several handguns and two assault style rifles.  

The prosecution called Texas Ranger Investigator Tony Rocha, who showed the jury the handgun recovered near the crime scene — a .357 magnum revolver — and casings from spent bullets.

Prosecutors said the revolver was the gun used to shoot trooper Sanchez, and claimed the bullets from it left him with injuries that led to his death. 

Godinez's defense attorneys pointed to an injury on Godinez’s forehead that he got from the crash prior to the shooting, and asked if he could have suffered a concussion.

Rocha said he couldn't comment because it was beyond his knowledge.

The defense previously brought up that Godinez was intoxicated, something jurors previously heard for themselves in that taped interview.

Godinez told investigators he was drunk when he shot trooper Moises Sanchez during the interview.

The prosecution's last witness of the day was DPS forensic scientist Carlos Vela, a fingerprint specialist, who said the print found in one of the spent casings belonged to Godinez.

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