Erick Hernandez-Mendez awaits verdict; jury to decide if he stabbed wife to death

On Tuesday, Erick Hernandez-Mendez faced more tough questions about the stabbing death in 2021 of his wife, Christina Matos.

Accused of her murder, Hernandez-Mendez claimed innocence and testified he watched Matos' roommate, Kailey Lynch-Firicano, stab his wife in their apartment. He also said his marriage to Matos was a "sham" to qualify for U.S. citizenship as he pursued a career.

• Part 1: Erick Hernandez-Mendez testifies in his defense
• Part 2: Erick Hernandez-Mendez testifies in his defense
• Closing arguments in murder trial of Erick Hernandez-Mendez

In the Tuesday morning session, prosecutor Stacy Newton brought up Hernandez-Mendez's account of what transpired, based on his Monday testimony when he said he saw Lynch-Firicano covered in blood in the kitchen of their shared apartment.

"Your comment to her after you see her stab Christina in the neck, killing her, is 'how could you put me in this position?'" Newton asked, implying that Hernandez-Mendez was only concerned for himself in that moment.

"No, I said, 'Do you have any idea the position that you're putting me in?'" Hernandez-Mendez said.

Hernandez-Mendez asked for clarification when Newton again asked if his foremost concern was himself.

"Based on your testimony here [Monday], you are the real victim in this case, aren't you? According to you, you are wrongfully accused, you're not the killer and you're the one on trial for this murder, not Kailey," she asked.

On Monday, Hernandez-Mendez told the court that the two roommates had a fight over the temperature in the apartment days before Matos, an NC State University student, was killed.

When Newton asked if his Monday testimony was rehearsed for the jury, Hernandez-Mendez responded, "I'm speaking honestly of my heart, full honesty on the stand."

During the cross-examination period, Hernandez-Mendez admitted to locking a door, picking up Matos' broken fingernails, wearing gloves stained with Matos' blood, throwing away her cell phone, lying to Matos' family when they called him to ask for help and lying to a detective during the investigation.

"And your testimony is this is all because you were so terrified of a 115-pound girl that you said [Monday], you so easily flung across the room," Newton continued.

"I wasn't scared for my own safety. I was scared for the safety of my family," Hernandez-Mendez said of his delay in pointing the finger at Lynch-Firicano.

Closing arguments followed, with attorney John McWilliam arguing for the defense. McWilliam emphasized the importance of the burden of proof in the legal process, stressing the need for the jury to be fully convinced of their decision. McWilliam also pointed the finger at Lynch-Firicano, who also lived with Matos and Hernandez-Mendez.

"What if you find someone guilty that is not guilty?" McWilliam said. "That is an unforgivable sin in law."

"You should find Erick Hernandez-Mendez not guilty, because he is not guilty. They have not proven his guilt, and he had the guts to get on the stand," he added.

Wake County Assistant District Attorney Matt Lively argued on behalf of the state during the closing arguments. Lively said Lynch-Firicano's status has no bearing on this trial. He argued Hernandez-Mendez's motive was that he didn't like Christina's job as a go-go dancer and he wasn't paying her for what he owed her for helping with his citizenship.

"[Hernandez-Mendez] has lied to the federal government," Lively said. "He has lied to Detective O'Neal. He's lied to the mother of Christina Matos. He has lied to the brother of Christina Matos. He has lied to his own mother. He has lied to people he was supposed to work for. He lied when he gave his marriage vows. Now, two-and-a-half years, almost three years later ... he would lie to you and force you to find him not guilty."

Authorities found Matos dead on April 4, 2021, inside her apartment at the Signature 1505 apartments on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. Matos' autopsy revealed she was stabbed 16 times. Matos and Hernandez-Mendez had only been married for five days at the time of the murder.

Ronnie Booth spoke as a character witness and said he's known Hernandez-Mendez, who was born in Mexico, for more than a decade.

"He was very helpful for many years for me. His family is loyal. He is a helpful young man," Booth said. "I know he is a peaceful person."

On Monday, Hernandez-Mendez said he found Lynch-Firicano had a knife in her hand and a rag over Matos' mouth, even getting an attorney to help him demonstrate what the scene looked like. He did admit to helping clean up the crime scene in addition to lying to detectives.

WRAL News is working to get a response from Lynch-Firacano's attorney concerning Hernandez-Mendez's accusations against her. She was charged with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact to murder in 2023.