ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Sitting between his attorneys, James Martin faces two counts of attempted murder and aggravated battery in connection to the November 2010 stabbing and shooting of his ex-wife, professional boxer Christy Martin, in Apopka.
Before jury selection began, James Martin rejected the state's only plea offer of 25 years in jail.
Now, Martin faces life in prison if he's convicted.
“Judge, my client is 68 years old, 25 years is the same as life. We would be turning that offer down,” said James Martin’s attorney.
In a hearing on Monday, prior to the beginning of jury selection, WFTV learned that James Martin's attorney will likely lay a foundation for self-defense.
However, prosecutors objected to the defense trying to introduce any alleged prior acts of violence allegedly committed by the victim.
The defense was limited in what might be told to jurors in opening statements. But Judge Emerson Thompson ruled that jurors would be allowed to hear about statements that Christy Martin made in her own deposition for the case. The defense could try to use those statements to bolster a claim of self defense, WFTV was told.
“It would be in error not to allow him to discuss her multi-year use of cocaine, how it effected her demeanor, behavior and perception of reality,” said Senior Judge Emerson Thompson, Jr., Orange County
In a deposition, Christy Martin also talked about a .380 pistol she often carried and a 9-mm gun she kept under her mattress. But prosecutors pointed out that James Martin had multiple opportunities to tell law enforcement it was a case of self-defense, instead, they said he denied either stabbing or shooting his wife.
WFTV
