Albuquerque man accused of stabbing woman over spilled water held without trial
An Albuquerque man accused of stabbing and killing his upstairs neighbor over spilled water will remain jailed as he awaits trial. Prosecutors told a district court judge this week that the evidence against 39-year-old Michael Cain supports keeping him in custody pending trial.
Cain faces a murder charge in the death of 22-year-old Esmeralda Romero at the Albuquerque Encore Apartments on Eubank near I-40.
State Prosecutor Gabriel Kallen described the case in strong terms. “There is evidence of premeditation, there’s evidence of practice. There’s evidence of escalating behavior to try to solve a very petty annoyance. And the defendant ultimately opted to stab somebody with a big knife a bunch of times to solve that petty annoyance,” Kallen said.
Defense attorney John McCall said Cain takes responsibility for the violence. “The defendant recognizes the violence in this incident. He is remorseful and regretful. He has expressed extreme sadness for what has happened,” McCall said.
During the Tuesday hearing, prosecutors played security camera footage showing the moments Romero was stabbed to death, according to the report. The killing followed an ongoing dispute over a dog’s water bowl spilling from Romero’s patio onto Cain’s.
A witness at the apartments saw Cain run up and attack Romero with a knife in hand, prosecutors said. The criminal complaint states that Cain turned himself in to police, though he did not say what for.
Prosecutors also pointed to stab marks on items around Cain’s apartment. The defense argued Cain did not plan the killing, but instead struggles with what McCall described as an “explosive anger” problem and needs mental health services rather than jail time.
Second Judicial District Court Judge Jennifer Wernersbach rejected that argument. “Clearly this is a crime of violence. Incredibly scary, incredibly sad, all around,” Wernersbach said. She went on to say, “I don’t know what really went on in his brain chemicals to lead to this point. I don’t think that the court can set conditions that would address that.”
Court records show Cain does not have a criminal history in New Mexico.
