Astorga murder trial pushed back 8th time

March 15, 2011

As prosecutors push for the death penalty against convicted deputy killer Michael Astorga, the trial date in his other murder case has been pushed back for the eighth time. Astorga is charged in the murder of 27-year-old Candido Martinez, which took place in November of 2005. Several months later, Astorga shot and killed Deputy James McGrane during a traffic stop in Tijeras. After a court hearing Monday, the trial date in the Martinez murder case has been set for a day in January 2012.