CORRALES — A man accused of killing a woman in Corrales in 2024 has entered an Alford plea a few weeks before he was scheduled for trial by jury.
Charles Kauffmann, of Corrales, was arrested for the murder of Elizabeth Barela on Jan. 25, 2024, in the 500 block of Los Arboles Road.
He entered an Alford plea — a guilty plea without admitting he committed the crime but states he is willing to withstand the punishment of the crime — on Sept. 9 for the charges of voluntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence.
Kauffmann remained at large for a six days after Barela was found with a gunshot wound. A witness told police at the time that Barela started banging on the window and Kauffmann went outside to confront her, according to a criminal complaint…