An undocumented immigrant accused of killing his friend while drunk behind the wheel, allegedly tells friends to lie about what happened.
Orling Carrasco-Zelaya is charged with motor vehicle homicide in the death of Margarito Nava-Luna. Prosecutors say they were drinking and left Bogie's Bar together near 108th & W. Maple Rd on April 17. Nava-Luna was found dead blocks away at 104th & Manderson Plaza. Zelaya was arrested a short time later and a couple of miles away for DUI.
Thursday, Douglas Co. Prosecutors Ryan Lindberg and Jameson Cantwell showed the bloody clothing removed from the victim. They say his blood was found underneath Zelaya's GMC Acadia.
The defense argued that investigators can't reconstruct the crash scene, and that Zelaya is responsible.
“With the blood and tissue underneath the Acadia shows that the Acadia ran over Mr. Nava-Luna and the injuries are what I have seen before of someone being run over,” OPD Ofc. Nicholas Prescott explained.
Prosecutors play a call made from jail by Zelaya to his wife shortly after he was arrested.
An officer who translated the call testified Zelaya told his wife, Nancy that a friend, Diego Galan, offered him a ride but he turned it down and left himself. Video surveillance from Bogie's Bar shows Zelaya and Nava-Luna leaving together shortly before he's found dead.
"Orling tells Nancy to tell Mr. Galan for him to say that he did leave the victim there at the bar," OPD Ofc. Jose Nava described.
The defense argued since the call was in Spanish, Zelaya said "vato" or guy, many times so it's unknown who he was talking about.
“At no time does Mr. Carrasco say ‘I ran over I killed this person correct?’” Defense attorney Thomas Campbell questioned.
“He does not",” Ofc. Nava responded.
In 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a deportation order on Zelaya but he was able to continue to live in the U.S. under aliases like Edwin Elvir-Palma. He has been arrested on multiple DUIs in other states.
The State rests its case late Thursday.
