Defense blames third man in 2014 slaying of Colorado man

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Defense attorneys for two men charged with murder in the death of a Colorado man whose body was found along a Wyoming highway say a third man is responsible.

Thirty-eight-year-old Daniel Ortiz and 26-year-old Moises Mendez are both on trial in Boulder, charged with felony first-degree murder, robbery and aggravated motor-vehicle theft in the death of 25-year-old Nathaniel Tallman of Lafayette.

Prosecutors say Ortiz came up with a plan to rob Tallman when he arrived to sell marijuana to the third man, Russell Britton. Britton pleaded guilty for being an accessory and will testify for the prosecution.

The Daily Camera reports that in opening statements Tuesday Ortiz’s attorney said blood was found in Britton’s van on his gloves and that he killed Tallman because he didn’t want to share the pot deal profits.