Costa Mesa murder case delayed

Greg Risling

SANTA ANA -- The trial of an accused murderer, whom prosecutors believe

killed a 30-year-old Costa Mesa woman out of jealousy, has been postponed

until next year.

The trial was scheduled to begin Monday, but the defendant, 42-year-old

May Kwan Turek, hired a new attorney to represent her. The judge in the

case will allow the attorney more time to review all the evidence before

the trial proceeds.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Debbie Lloyd said the trial likely will start on March

6.

Turek is suspected of killing Roxanne Michelle Martin, who was reportedly

a romantic adversary to the defendant. The man caught in the middle was

Anthony Kubris Jr., who was involved with Turek at one time but

reportedly wanted to break off the relationship. Kubris told police

investigators he was falling in love with Martin, an ex-girlfriend, and

Turek was becoming too possessive.

Martin also reportedly informed Kubris that she was pregnant with his

child, but was willing to have an abortion.

Turek allegedly shot the victim to death at Kubris’s home on Victoria

Street while he was away on vacation in August 1994. Martin’s

bullet-riddled body was found by a neighbor.

Turek, who was married to a Hermosa Beach police officer, told

authorities days after the murder that she had traveled to China. Turek

reportedly changed her story after it was discovered she hadn’t requested

any vacation time from her employer.

The key evidence in the case was a blood smear found in Turek’s 1987

Nissan Maxima that matched the victim’s blood type. Recent advances in

DNA evidence made the link to the murder possible, leading to Turek’s

arrest in September 1998.