Tearful testimony behind plexiglass: Fresno murder trial has COVID-19 precautions
On the opening day of the murder trial of accused killer Hileberto Valtierra, his ex-girlfriend testified Monday that she saw her former boyfriend shoot her 16-year-old son three times until he collapsed and died.
Valtierra, 37, is on trial for allegedly killing Angel Trejo on Dec. 9 at an apartment complex in the western Fresno County city of San Joaquin.
Monday’s trial is the first murder case in Fresno County Superior Court to use COVID-19 precautions throughout the entire process, from jury selection to the trial. Jurors are socially distanced and everyone in the courtroom is using a face mask.
Judge Alvin Harrell III was mindful to make sure jurors were at ease.
“If anyone feels the need for more distance, feel free to spread out,” he said.
On the witness stand that now has a piece of plexiglass in front of it, Leticia Rodriguez-Alejo broke down in tears several times as she described what happened that night. She told prosecutor Tim Galstan that she and Valtierra had recently broken up after dating for several months.
She was moving out of an apartment she shared with Valtierra’s sister. Several members of her family were helping her, including her two sons, Esteban Trejo, 20, and Angel Trejo.
Later during the evening, Valtierra showed up and began hurling insults at Rodriguez-Anejo.
“He said I was a whore and that I should just go,” she said.
Her son, Angel, didn’t like the way his mother was being treated and told Valterria he needed to be respectful, like they were being respectful to him.
But the tension between the two families only escalated. Esteban Trejo stepped in to help defend his brother and the arguing quickly turned to fighting, Rodriguez-Alejo said.
“They (Esteban and Hileberto) were both on the ground, hitting each other,” she said.
After the scuffle ended, they both got up and Valtierra turned to his niece and said, “let me have it,” said Rodriguez-Anejo. His niece handed him a black handgun. He pointed it at Rodriguez-Anejo, her daughter, and Angel. She then heard the gun go off several times.
“When I turned to look at Angel he was already beginning to fall from being shot,” she said through tears. “After he shot Angel I ran toward him (Valtierra) and told him to stop, but he pushed me to the side and told me to get out of here.”
Esteban tried to get away, but Valtierra caught up to him, shooting him several times. Esteban Trejo survived the shooting; his brother Angel died at the scene.
Valtierra’s defense attorney Emily Takao told the jury during her opening statement that Valtierra was defending himself from Esteban, who was the aggressor.
“He was acting in self-defense, he was worried for himself and for his family,” Takao said.
Valtierra fled to Salinas where he was found by Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives, arrested and returned to Fresno.
If found guilty, Valtierra could spend life in prison.
The trial resumes on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 4:13 PM.
