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Testimony begins in woman's 2023 shooting death in her West Side home

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Austin Wilkins.jpg
Austin Wilkins

Prosecutors told jurors on Tuesday that Austin Wilkins was one of three men who participated in a botched robbery that led to the 2023 shooting death of a woman at her West Side home in front of her 10-year-old daughter.

Wilkins, 29, is charged with first-degree murder, attempted robbery and other charges in the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Brandy McManus, who was fatally shot through her door after she refused to admit two mask-wearing men.

Wilkins鈥 trial in 2nd Judicial District Court is scheduled through Friday before Judge Matthew Chavez.

Both defense and prosecution attorneys told jurors that the case will rely heavily on the testimony of Wilkins鈥 two co-defendants and their motives for implicating Wilkins in the attempted robbery.

鈥淵ou are going to hear why these guys may or may not have a motive to bring Austin (Wilkins) into this, and that鈥檚 really going to be the crux of this case,鈥 Assistant District Attorney Derek Berg told jurors.

Wilkins鈥 attorney, John McCall, responded that Wilkins鈥 was not present at the woman鈥檚 home at the time of the fatal shooting and had no part in the botched robbery.

McCall also told jurors that Wilkins鈥 two co-defendants repeatedly changed their stories in police interviews. Each have their own motives to implicate Wilkins.

鈥淵ou are going to see how these lies are permeating through everything that these two young men are doing,鈥 McCall said of the co-defendants.

Joseph Montoya, 33, pleaded guilty in July to second-degree murder, attempted robbery and other charges in McManus鈥 death, court records show. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 5.

Montoya鈥檚 plea agreement remains sealed. Montoya is expected to testify that he fired the fatal gunshot and that Wilkins was at his side at the time, Berg said.

The second co-defendant, Kristopher Darling, 25, is charged with first-degree murder and other charges in McManus鈥 killing. His trial is scheduled for Oct. 6. Berg said Darling is negotiating a plea agreement.

McCall told jurors that Darling had a grudge against Wilkins over a woman who had a relationship with both men and had a child with each man.

鈥淒arling was not happy with Austin Wilkins at all,鈥 McCall said. 鈥淭he point here is that the animus or the anger, the frustration against this man, has built up over this time period.鈥

Prosecutors contend that Darling drove himself and the two men to McManus鈥 home in the 6000 block of Canis NW, then parked nearby while Montoya and Wilkins approached the home to demand firearms from McManus鈥 husband, who was working an extra shift at the time.

After the shooting, the two men exchanged gunfire with McManus鈥 neighbor, who came out of his home with a firearm after hearing the gunshot, police wrote in a criminal complaint. No one was injured in the gunfight.

The daughter, who was uninjured, phoned McManus鈥 husband, who called 911, the complaint said.

Albuquerque police required nine months of investigation to piece together the events and arrest the three men, Berg said. Jurors will have little physical evidence to rely on, he said, 鈥渂ut what does exist is overwhelming, compelling testimony.鈥