San Mateo woman pleads not guilty in murder of neighbor with baseball bat
(photo: San Mateo Conty Sheriff's Office)
REDWOOD CITY (BCN) A San Mateo woman charged with murdering her 66-year-old neighbor
with a baseball bat is set to stand trial in May, San Mateo County prosecutors said on Friday.
Brenda Martinez, 40, is charged with one count of murder with an enhancement for use of a deadly weapon after an argument that occurred in the first block of North Claremont Street.
According to prosecutors, Martinez turned herself in to the San Mateo police around 8:30 p.m. on July 4, shortly after the killing of San Mateo resident Ellen Mackay.
Martinez told investigators that she hit Mackay numerous times in the head with a baseball bat after the two women had a verbal argument.
San Mateo police said they responded to the home and pronounced Mackay dead at the scene.
Prosecutors said that after the incident Martinez told police she began to flee, but instead decided to turn herself into authorities.
Martinez is scheduled to appear in court again on March 8, for a pretrial conference, and on May 2 for a jury trial, prosecutors said. She remains in custody and is being held without bail.