Jurors begin deliberations in trial for 2003 murder of Ontario woman, 18
Jurors began deliberations Monday afternoon in the murder trial of an Upland man accused of assisting two friends in the slaying of an 18-year-old Ontario woman in 2003.
Prosecutors accuse Aaron Lozada, 35, of playing a minor but essential role in a residential robbery and kidnapping on Aug. 15, 2003 that resulted in the death of Jessica de la Torre.
The other two men accused of murdering De la Torre -- Jesus Penuelas and Sergio Arias -- have already been convicted of murder.
In his closing argument Monday, Deputy District Attorney Ambrosio E. Rodriguez described Lozada as a willing participant in the robbery, and later an accessory to killing of De la Torre.
"Jesus Penuelas couldn't have done this without the help of his friend (Lozada)," Rodriguez said.
Frank Peasley, Lozada's attorney, said in his closing argument that Lozada did now know of his two friends' robbery plot, and was unaware of the killing until after it was already over.
After Arias and Penuelas robbed De la Torre's home, Penuelas beat De la Torre unconscious and put her in the trunk of her father's car, which he then stole, prosecutors said.
Penuelas then drove to the Upland apartment shared by Lozada and Arias, and enlisted Lozada's help unloading stolen stereo equipment from De la Torre's home.
Lozada followed Penuelas in his own car when Penuelas drove the stolen car to an isolated area near the Jurupa Mountians in Rubidoux. Penuelas unloaded De la Torre from the trunk and ran her over several times, killing her.
Lozada did not participate directly in the act that killed De la Torre, but afterward he gave Penuelas a ride home after Penuelas ditched the stolen car in Fontana, prosecutors said.
During Monday's proceedings in Riverside Superior Court, Lozada interrupted Rodriguez's closing argument, apparently to protest Rodriguez's contention that Lozada knew De la Torre was in the trunk during the ride to Rubidoux.
Lozada said, "Excuse me," then continued to speak loudly in Spanish.
Judge Edward Webster quieted Lozada down and ordered him removed from the courtroom. Lozada was allowed to return about five minutes later after a brief recess.
Jurors began deliberating at about 1:45 p.m. Monday. They are scheduled to resume deliberating at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, according on online court records.
A previous trial for Lozada ended in June with a jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of conviction.
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