The 1st Degree Murder jury trial of 35-year-old Aristh Rodriguez-Linares was paused early Friday afternoon when the State rested it’s case. Rodriguez-Linares is accused in the January 21, 2025 shooting death of 40-year-old Maykel Farinas-Carballo outside of a residence in Lexington. It was the fifth day of the trial when Assistant Attorney General Sandra Allen made their declaration.
Defense Attorney David Tarrell then made a standard motion, called a “Directed Verdict”. In criminal cases, such motions are made following the State’s presentation of evidence, in which the Defense asks the Trial Judge to dismiss the case based on their belief the State had not presented enough evidence to sustain a conviction on the defendant. District Judge Shawnta Durham then overruled the Defense’s motion. Rodriguez-Linares faces two weapons charges in addition to 1st Degree Murder.
Friday morning’s testimony included Dr. Jeremy Berg, a Forensic Pathologist from Omaha, who conducted an autopsy on Farinas-Carballo. Among exhibits created by him were autopsy photos, diagrams documenting injuries and x-rays. Dr. Berg concluded his cause of death was gun shots to the head, torso and extremities.
Nebraska Attorney General’s Office Investigator Tina Oliver testified about a forensic download she made of Farinas-Carballo’s cell phone and a copy of a forensic download of Rodriguez-Linares’ cell phone completed by Kearney Police Department. There was a picture of a watch on both cell phones sent by Farinas-Carballo to Rodriguez-Linares. That watch had a price tag with it and was located in tennis shoes on the passenger seat of Farinas-Carballo. Tarrell asked Investigator OIiver whether the sending of the watch photo is the sort of activity when someone is trying to sell items to another person? To which Oliver replied affirmatively.
Certified Nebraska Court Interpreter Irma Watt testified about documents and audio she was asked to translate from Spanish to English involving both suspect and victim. In the time leading up to the shooting, there were 17 messages from Farinas-Carballo to Rodriguez-Linares through a social media app. In one message Farias-Carballo purportedly said “I will show you”.
The Trial resumes this morning in the Dawson County District Courtroom.
