Man charged in 2021 murder of NC State student appears in court facing possible life sentence

The trial for a man charged with killing his wife of just five days is underway at the Wake County Justice Center.

Christina Matos was found stabbed to death and locked in her apartment nearly three years ago.

Her husband, Erick Hernandez Mendez was charged with murder.

On Wednesday in the courtroom, Matos' brother recounted the day his family showed up at Mendez's apartment.

If convicted, Mendez is facing life in prison without parole in the death of Matos, who was 20 years old at the time of her death and and an NC State student.

The state believes Mendez stabbed Matos 16 times in their apartment on Hillsborough Street in 2021.

The prosecution's first witness was Christina's brother - Abraham Matos. He explained Erick married Christina five days before she was found dead.

"She wanted to help him because she understood immigration is a hard thing, she wanted to give him a good future and she saw potential in him," Abraham Matos said.

In 2021, the Matos family asked Raleigh police to do a welfare check, as they had not heard from Christina for five days.

In court Wednesday, Abraham Matos said the family showed up at her apartment and Erick would not tell them Christina's location.

Police found Christina locked in her bedroom at the Signature 1505 apartments on Hillsborough Street. That happened on April 4, 2021.

Christina Matos' roommate, Kailey Lynch Firicano, was also charged in this case with accessory after the fact and obstruction of justice. Police believe the NC State graduate student helped cover up the murder.

The trial is expected to last over a week.