Missing juror delays murder trial

Joshua Gonzales accused of killing Matthew Bailey-Vo

SAN ANTONIO – Unexpected news came on Tuesday, just as the murder trial of Joshua Gonzales was about to begin.

A juror called the court saying she had been injured in a traffic accident and would be late, and may not make it to court at all.

Gonzales is accused of killing Matthew Bailey-Vo during a heated argument over a woman, Tiffany Flores.

Both men, prosecutors said during opening arguments, had been romantically involved with Flores.

A fistfight between the two on the night of Feb. 2, 2014, ended when Gonzales produced a gun and shot Bailey-Vo once in the head.

RELATED: Murder trial begins for man accused of shooting man over a woman

“This is a classic case of self-defense,” defense attorney Alan Brown said. “He was attacked.”

The shooting, Brown insisted, was justified.

“If you think you would be killed or seriously injured, at that moment in time you have a right to get out of that position and do can do whatever it takes,” he said.

Prosecutors said this is clearly a murder, not self-defense.

They said that Gonzales had texted Bailey-Vo earlier and threatened to shoot him in the head.

And they said that in his statement to sheriff’s deputies on the night of the shooting Gonzales did not mention self-defense.

A conviction on murder charges could mean life prison for Gonzales.

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About the Author:

Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role.