Murder trial begins in Guerneville domestic slaying

<p>Bret Matz and Robert Guess had a tumultuous relationship, one that eventually led to Guess’ slaying at the couple’s Monte Rio home in January. On that, both sides agreed as Matz’s murder trial got under way in Sonoma County court Tuesday.</p><p>But prosecutors say Matz planned to kill Guess and did it with deliberation and malice, thus justifying the first-degree murder charge. His attorney, though, says Matz may have justifiably lashed out in the heat of passion or been too intoxicated to have formed the necessary legal intent for first-degree murder.</p><p>In opening arguments, defense attorney Jenny Andrews told jurors Matz did indeed kill his partner.</p><p>“This case is not a whodunit. This is a ‘what is it;’ what, if any, crime occurred during the death of Robert Guess?” she said.</p><p>Minutes earlier, prosecutor Bob Waner said his evidence will prove that Matz, 47, hit Guess, 46, on the head with a 4½-pound table lamp three or four times, killing him in their home on Jan. 2.</p><p>“The person who was swinging that lamp was Mr. Matz,” Waner said.</p><p>A first-degree murder conviction would mean a term of 25 years to life in prison. He could be acquitted, or found guilty of a lesser charge, such as second-degree murder, which carries a 15-to-life term.</p><p>Both men were known to drink heavily and fight with each other when they were intoxicated, witnesses testified.</p><p>Andrews said Guess was a loving and talented person, but had “another side of him that struggled with alcohol issues,” as did Matz. </p><p>“Both had black eyes as they strolled around town,” she said.</p><p>After Guess was killed, Matz staggered into a local business and, sobbing, told the owner he had killed his partner. Matz was described by several witnesses as being highly intoxicated, incoherent, inconsolable and suicidal.</p><p>“He was at cliff’s edge, emotionally,” said John Early, who tried to console Matz inside a collectibles boutique on Main Street. Early said he also took away a large pair of scissors Matz was trying to pocket.</p><p>After trying to throw himself over a guard rail above the local fire station a few minutes later, Guess was taken into custody. Fire officials had just found Guess’ body at the couple’s house nearby.</p><p>Guess had been dead for several hours, Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman said. </p><p>Photos displayed in court show a blood stain two to three feet wide on the mattress under Guess’ head. Blood soaked through the mattress and into the box springs below. Blood spatters were found on the wall behind Guess’ head and on the bedroom ceiling.</p><p>Matz wept quietly in court when photos of his Guess’s body flashed on screen.</p><p>Three firefighters testified that Matz admitted several times, while drunk and sobbing, that he’d killed Guess, saying “I killed my love. I want to die” and “Someone else had my man and if I couldn’t have him, then I had to kill him.”</p><p>“He was just kind of out of his mind,” Baxman said.</p><p>More than six hours after Matz walked into town, his blood-alcohol level tested at .30 percent, nearly four times the legal limit for driving. An emergency room doctor cleared Matz to go to jail, determining he didn’t have any serious injuries or any bruising from the mutual fight Matz described.</p><p>Sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Young said when he arrested Matz on suspicion of murder, he didn’t bother telling Matz what the charges were, saying he “didn’t seem competent enough to understand it” because he was so drunk and upset.</p><p>The trial continues Wednesday afternoon. Matz is being held without bail.</p>