Detective gives graphic testimony in murder trial

Describes his first look at victim

SAN ANTONIO – The first San Antonio police detective on the scene of the murder of Daniel Cantu, 51, said that initially it did not appear to be a murder.

Sgt. Ricky Lopez was testifying in the trial of Anthony Smith, 25, who is accused of shooting Cantu to death outside Cantu’s Northeast Side apartment on July 28, 2013.

“Externally, you couldn’t see that anything was wrong,” Lopez said.  “It appeared that maybe he was just passed out sleeping.”

But on closer examination, he said that he realized that something indeed was wrong.

“The fire ants had already been on him and eaten portions of his eyelids, and things like that, off,” Lopez testified. “He was obviously deceased.”

Smith was arrested nearly three weeks later after his aunt called police and told them that her nephew had admitted to her that he had killed Cantu.

The defense is expected to begin calling witnesses when the trial resumes on Friday in Judge Jefferson Moore’s 186th District Court.

When asked if Smith would testify, his lawyer Christian Henricksen replied, “That’s a game time decision.”

If Smith is convicted he is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison.


About the Author:

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