CRIME

Burrows convicted of murdering Daniel Boone

Burrows was charged on Oct. 27, 2015, in the death of Daniel Boone, who was lured out of a Flora Vista home and shot to death.

Joshua Kellogg
jkellogg@daily-times.com
A portrait of Daniel Boone is projected on a screen as Assistant District Attorney Keith Mandelski presents his closing argument on Monday during Kenneth Burrows' murder trial at the 11th Judicial District Court in Aztec.

 

AZTEC — A jury found Kenneth Burrows guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Daniel Boone this afternoon.

The verdict was rendered about 4:10 p.m. in Aztec district court after about four hours of deliberation.

A handful of people sat in the benches behind Burrows, 46, in the courtroom as the decision was read on the fourth day of the trial.

The benches behind the San Juan County assistant district attorneys prosecuting the case were filled with Boone's friends and family members.

“I'm glad it ended the way it did,” Daniel’s mother Brenda Boone said after the decision.

Christian Hatfield, one of Burrows' attorneys, said he plans on appealing the decision.

"I did not think the state proved (Burrows') guilt beyond a reasonable doubt," Hatfield said.

Kenneth Burrows looks back at the courtroom on Monday during the closing arguments in his murder trial at the 11th Judicial District Court in Aztec.

Burrows and Tiki Marez, 34, were charged on Oct. 27, 2015, in the death of Daniel Boone, who was reportedly lured out of a Flora Vista home and shot to death in January 2014. According to court testimony, Boone worked as a law enforcement informant in an effort to reduce his sentence on drug charges.

Daniel Boone's wife, Misty Boone, witnessed her husband's shooting from the kitchen window of their home, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

Cosme Ripol, another of Burrows' attorneys, said during his closing argument that Daniel Boone was shot five times, and suggested Marez might also have shot Boone.

More: Witness says defendant talked about a shooting

Marez entered an Alford plea, similar to a no contest plea, on Feb. 28 to a second-degree murder charge. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 29.

The jury also found Burrows not guilty of a tampering with evidence charge.

Dalley has set Burrows' sentencing hearing for May 2 on the murder conviction.

Burrows also faces trial on April 26 for a felony charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Brent Capshaw, San Juan County Chief Deputy District Attorney, declined to comment on whether prosecutors will pursue that charge.

Chief  Deputy District Attorney Brent Capshaw speaks on Monday before a jury retired to deliberate in Kenneth Burrows' murder trial at the 11th Judicial District Court in Aztec.

During the closing statements before the jury started deliberations, attorneys made their final arguments.

San Juan County Assistant District Attorney Keith Mandelski went first, telling the jurors that Daniel Boone was deliberately killed, or “assassinated,” by Burrows.

Mandelski said based on the evidence presented, it shows that Burrows was hiding and waiting for Daniel Boone to appear by Marez’s vehicle along N.M. Highway 516 so he could shoot him.

He continued by stating Burrows chased Boone around the car, then Boone ran onto the grass lawn of his home, collapsed and died.

Ripol, in his closing argument for the defense, questioned whether prosecutors had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Burrows was guilty of the murder charge.

Ripol alleged that Marez wanted Daniel Boone dead and suggested that she could have shot him herself.

He continued by questioning whether Marez’s testimony was entirely truthful, based on an interview she gave to a detective for the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office during the investigation.

Ripol wondered out loud if Marez was bound by a plea agreement to stick to testimony given during a preliminary hearing.

Capshaw later responded to Ripol’s statement, stating Marez is bound to tell the truth and be consistent with prior statements and testimony.

Dalley declared Burrows first trial on the charges a mistrial earlier this month after he found that witnesses had given improper testimony.

Joshua Kellogg covers crime, courts and social issues for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627.