Shane Brisco News Today

A judge Thursday dismissed a second-degree murder charge against former Las Cruces police officer Christopher Smelser. He was accused of killing Antonio Valenzuela with a controversial chokehold technique during a traffic stop in 2020. Justin Garcia, public safety reporter with the Las Cruces Sun-News who's been following the case closely, spoke with KUNM about why it was the judge — not the jury — who declared Smelser not guilty.

The judge presiding over a murder trial involving a former police officer announced Wednesday that he would hear arguments regarding a directed verdict.

A hearing marked the beginning of a two-month process that may end with a jury deciding if the former officer is guilty of second-degree murder.