Arraignment Delayed For Death Row Inmate Accused Of Blythe Murder

Arraignment was postponed today for a condemned cop killer accused in the fatal shooting of a Blythe store clerk 15 years ago.

Ernesto Salgado Martinez, 34, who was brought to Riverside County from Arizona in August, faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of 43-year- old Randip Singh.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Thomas Douglass delayed the arraignment until Jan. 7 at the request of the defense.

Martinez has been sentenced to die for the Aug. 15, 1995, murder of Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer Robert Martin.

Martinez shot Martin four times during a traffic stop near Phoenix and took the 57-year-old officer’s service weapon before speeding off.

He entered a convenience store in Blythe several hours later, where he allegedly shot Singh during a holdup.

Ballistics reports showed the shell casing found at the store matched the ammunition used in Martin’s service weapon, court documents state.

Martinez was arrested in Indio two days later, where both the 0.38- caliber pistol he used to kill Martin and the service handgun were recovered.

His 1998 conviction and sentence were upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court and a federal judge.