Defense wants jurors to be told of victim’s tattoo

By Jonathon Shacat
Herald/Review
BISBEE — Attorneys prosecuting and defending U.S. Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Corbett’s murder case disagree whether the jury should be made aware of evidence that the victim had a tattoo.

Corbett is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and negligent homicide against Francisco Dominguez-Rivera, an illegal immigrant from Mexico. The shooting took place near Naco on Jan. 12, 2007.

The matter will be argued during a pre-trial hearing Monday in U.S. District Court in Tucson. The two-week trial is scheduled to start Tuesday.

Prosecutors filed a motion dated Feb. 4 asking Judge David Bury to exclude evidence regarding the victim’s tattoo or any alleged gang affiliation because it would “only serve to confuse and prejudice the jury.â€