ALBUQUERQUE – Two men accused of a triple murder in northern New Mexico last year will have separate trials.
Albuquerque TV station KRQE reports that a judge has agreed to sever the cases after defense lawyers claimed the suspects made conflicting statements to authorities.
Both trials are scheduled to begin in January.
Prosecutors say 34-year-old John Powell of Taos and 33-year-old Roger Gage of Arroyo Hondo each face three counts of first-degree murder.
The two men are accused of killing 36-year-old Abraham Martinez of Dixon, 42-year-old April Browne of Taos and 27-year-old Kierin Guillemin of Vadito.
State Police say the bodies of the three victims were found in a home near Dixon in June 2018.
Some Dixon residents say the site of the triple homicide had a reputation as a drug house.
