Sloan trial continues with expert testimony

By BRANDON MESSICK
Daily Press Staff Writer
The case of New Mexico v. Matthew Sloan continued Thursday, with defense attorney Jesse R. Cosby raising an objection to the warrant used in searching and seizing evidence from the home of the defendant.
Sloan has been accused of the first-degree murder of Artesia resident Timothy Wallace in 2012, as well as aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, and tampering with evidence.
Also on Thursday, expert witness Margo Mikeska, a DNA specialist with the New Mexico Department of Public safety, affirmed that genetic material found on the weapon and on the partially-burned jeans discovered by police at the defendant’s residence was Sloan’s within a high scientific probability.
Cosby questioned the extent of scientific certainty in Mikeska’s findings, however. Due to paint that had been spilled at the victim’s residence, Cosby questioned how well the crime scene had been preserved prior to DNA samples being taken.
Sloan’s aunt, Debra Thompson, appeared at the trial yesterday to support her nephew.
“I know that a terrible thing happened,” she said. “I just hope that he gets a fair trial.”
Sloan’s trial will continue today and may carry into next week before all witnesses are heard.