Judge: Upland woman must stand trial for murdering husband
An Upland woman accused of killing her husband with a sword last year must stand trial on murder and other charges, a West Valley Superior Court judge has ruled.
Prosecutors accuse Naomi Valdivia, 34, of stabbing 34-year-old Jose Luis Gonzalez to death following an argument in the couple's apartment in the 800 block of West Orchid Court.
Judge Elia V. Pirozzi ruled Friday at the conclusion of a preliminary hearing that Valdivia must stand trial on three felony charges: murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse.
Valdivia's family members have said Valdivia was acting in self-defense the day her husband was killed.
"She was beaten that night," Lydia Arias, Valdivia's sister, said in January. "He brandished a weapon, his own personal weapon in the house that night, came at her with it and assaulted her with it first."
Valdivia rejected a plea offer for 13 years, 4 months in prison in January, and now faces 26 years to life if convicted of murder and related charges.
Two Upland police detectives testified on Friday, the third day of testimony in Valdivia's preliminary hearing.
Upland police officers testified at the two previous hearing dates, said Deputy District Attorney Theodore J. Smith, III.
Valerie Young, Valdivia's defense attorney, has not returned a call seeking comment.
Valdivia is next due in court for an arraignment hearing March 26. She remained in custody Monday at West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $1 million bail.
Click here to read past blog posts on Valdivia's case.
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