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Photo: William Luther, Staff / San Antonio Express-News
Robert Martinez looks around the 290th state District Court courtroom Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2017 during a break in his trial for allegedly shooting and killing Steven Cerna. Steven Cerna was shot multiple times and killed Feb. 10, 2015.
lessRobert Martinez looks around the 290th state District Court courtroom Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2017 during a break in his trial for allegedly shooting and killing Steven Cerna. Steven Cerna was shot multiple times and
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Steven Cerna, seen in an undated evidence photo shown Tuesday, Jan. 09, 2017 during Robert Martinez's murder trial, was shot multiple times and killed Feb. 10, 2015.
Steven Cerna, seen in an undated evidence photo shown Tuesday, Jan. 09, 2017 during Robert Martinez's murder trial, was shot multiple times and killed Feb. 10, 2015.
Photo: William Luther, Staff / San Antonio Express-News
Patrick Serna testifies Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2017 in the 290th state District Court during Robert Martinez's murder trial. Martinez is accused of shooting and killing Patrick's brother, Steven Cerna, Feb. 10, 2015.
Patrick Serna testifies Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2017 in the 290th state District Court during Robert Martinez's murder trial. Martinez is accused of shooting and killing Patrick's brother, Steven Cerna, Feb. 10, 2015.
Photo: William Luther, Staff / San Antonio Express-News
State district court judge Melisa Skinner, center, holds a sidebar conversation with assistant district attorney Melissa Saenz, right, and defense attorney Leland McRae during Robert Martinez's murder trial. Martinez is accused of shooting and killing Steven Cerna Feb. 20, 2015.
lessState district court judge Melisa Skinner, center, holds a sidebar conversation with assistant district attorney Melissa Saenz, right, and defense attorney Leland McRae during Robert Martinez's murder trial.
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Patricia Serna points toward Martinez. She said her son had mental illness, had few friends and mostly stayed home, but had left their house with two men, including the defendant.
Patricia Serna points toward Martinez. She said her son had mental illness, had few friends and mostly stayed home, but had left their house with two men, including the defendant.
Photo: William Luther / San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting in a concrete culvert Friday February 20, 2015 on the 1100 block of Shadwell.
San Antonio police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting in a concrete culvert Friday February 20, 2015 on the 1100 block of Shadwell.
Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting in a concrete culvert Friday February 20, 2015 on the 1100 block of Shadwell.
San Antonio police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting in a concrete culvert Friday February 20, 2015 on the 1100 block of Shadwell.
Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting in a concrete culvert Friday February 20, 2015 on the 1100 block of Shadwell.
San Antonio police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting in a concrete culvert Friday February 20, 2015 on the 1100 block of Shadwell.
Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting in a concrete culvert Friday February 20, 2015 on the 1100 block of Shadwell.
San Antonio police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting in a concrete culvert Friday February 20, 2015 on the 1100 block of Shadwell.
Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting in a concrete culvert Friday February 20, 2015 on the 1100 block of Shadwell.
San Antonio police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting in a concrete culvert Friday February 20, 2015 on the 1100 block of Shadwell.
Defendant Robert Martinez (left) sits Friday in the 290th State District Court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015.
Defendant Robert Martinez (left) sits Friday in the 290th State District Court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015.
Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News
Defendant Robert Martinez (left) sits Friday in the 290th State District Court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Punishment is set for Tuesday.
Defendant Robert Martinez (left) sits Friday in the 290th State District Court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Punishment is set for Tuesday.
Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News
Defendant Robert Martinez (right) walks Friday in the 290th State District Court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Punishment is set for Tuesday.
Defendant Robert Martinez (right) walks Friday in the 290th State District Court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Punishment is set for Tuesday.
Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News
Defendant Robert Martinez (left) stands with his defense attorney Leland McRae (right) on Friday in the 290th State District Court while being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Punishment is set for Tuesday.
lessDefendant Robert Martinez (left) stands with his defense attorney Leland McRae (right) on Friday in the 290th State District Court while being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Punishment is set for
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People console each other Friday in the 290th State District Court after defendant Robert Martinez was convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015.
People console each other Friday in the 290th State District Court after defendant Robert Martinez was convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015.
Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio man accused in 2015 ‘Hell’s Gate’ killing found guilty of murder
Shortly after a jury here convicted him of murder Friday, Robert Martinez told the panel he didn’t kill anyone in a drainage ditch in 2015 known as “Hell’s Gate.”
It took a jury about 90 minutes to convict Martinez, 21, of killing Steven Cerna, 19, whose body was found Feb. 20, 2015, in a West Side drainage ditch known as “Hell’s Gate” in the 1100 block of Shadwell.
Prosecutors Melissa Saenz and Kristina Escalona argued that Cerna was lured to a motel with the promise of drugs or money and then was taken to the ditch and killed in retaliation for a killing that did not involve Cerna.
Martinez did not take the stand in the first phase of the trial, which lasted four days, but testified on his own behalf shortly after the verdict was read and jurors began hearing testimony to determine his punishment. He faces five to 99 years or life in prison.
“I did not shoot that man,” Martinez told the jury when asked directly by his defense attorney, Leland McRae.
Martinez testified that he had no relationship with his uncle, Larry Isaac, 31, who testified Thursday that Martinez told him Cerna was “in the dirt,” and admitted to killing the man.
McRae reminded jurors in his closing argument that Isaac had a reason to lie about Martinez because of a plea agreement that would cap his sentence in a kidnapping case to nine years instead of the 20 he faces.
The courthouse is closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Closing arguments in the punishment phase are expected to begin Tuesday morning in the 290th state District Court, presided by Judge Melisa Skinner.
Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863
