Trial begins for Sidney man accused in 2012 shooting death of local woman

The third first degree murder trial in Cheyenne County District Court in a matter of four months began hearing evidence Monday. Jury selection in the case of the state of Nebraska vs. Larry Martinez took place Friday and the trial is scheduled to run through the end of this week.

Martinez, 54 of Sidney, is charged with first degree murder, a class IA felony and use of a firearm to commit a felony, a class IC felony, for allegedly shooting and killing 30-year-old Mandy Kershman.

Martinez is accused of shooting Kershman, also of Sidney, on July 18, 2012 in a residence on the north side of Sidney.

When police responded to a 911 call in the later afternoon of July 18, they reportedly found Kershman on a couch inside the residence. Emergency personnel determined that Kershman was deceased when they arrived on scene.

Leland Blake, who lived at the residence where Kershman was shot allegedly informed law enforcement that he’d told Kershman to allow the defendant into the home shortly before the shooting.

Blake claimed he was in a back office and heard Martinez, who he knew only as “Larry”, make a derogatory remark before the sound of a gunshot. He informed authorities he did not immediately exit the office, for fear of being shot himself.

When he did, Blake reportedly saw that Kershman had been shot, and that Martinez was driving away.

Blake indicated that he did not know of any problems between the two, who were reportedly dating. Martinez was later arrested on Highway 385, approximately three miles north of Sidney on the evening of July 18.

Martinez has an extensive criminal background. His first serious offense was an arson charge in the state of Illinois in 1977. Martinez’s past charges include theft, burglary, multiple DUIs and first degree assault in addition to many other crimes.