Opening statements heard in Ontario love-triangle murder trial

Jurors heard opening statements from attorneys today in the murder trial of a wife and her boyfriend accused of killing the woman's husband.

Shortly after midnight on Aug. 2, 2006, Angel Esteves, 26, drove to the area of D Street and Parkside Drive in Ontario after his wife called and asked him to pick her up, Deputy District Attorney Mike Dowd said in his opening statement.

Esteves and his wife -- 24-year-old Ingrid Esteves -- argued briefly after Esteves pulled up and opened the passenger-side door for his wife, Dowd said.

Moments later, the woman's boyfriend emerged with a handgun and opened fire on Angel Esteves, Dowd said.

Esteves was shot once in the forehead and once in the upper back. He slouched over and lost consciousness -- with his car engine still running, the headlights on, and the passenger-side door ajar.

He was pronounced dead at a local hospital about six hours later, Dowd said.

Ingrid Esteves, of San Bernardino, had the "oldest motive in the book," Dowd said. "(She) got her lover to kill for her."

Ingrid Esteves and her boyfriend, 21-year-old Rafael Quiroz of Temple City, sat only a few feet from each other at the defense table today in West Valley Superior Court as Dowd detailed their alleged crimes.

They have been jailed awaiting trial in lieu of $1 million bail since they were arrested following the shooting.

In her opening statement, Ingrid Esteves' defense attorney said the woman did not know Quiroz had a gun the night of the shooting, and did not know Quiroz was going to kill her husband.

"Had she not had a relationship with this young man, this would not have occurred," said attorney Maryanne Murphy.

Quiroz's defense attorney, Ted Thompson, told jurors that another man with Ingrid Esteves and Quiroz the night of the shooting was responsible for Angel Esteves' death.

In his opening statement, Thompson did not name the man he said was responsible for the killing. Thompson asked jurors to "keep an open mind" until all the evidence is revealed during the trial.

Ingrid Esteves minimized her involvement in her husband's death in interviews with police, but her actions prior to the incident show her involvement, Dowd told jurors.

Before the shooting, Ingrid Esteves told a co-worker she "wanted her husband dead," and asked the co-worker about obtaining a gun, Dowd told jurors.

The night of Aug. 1, 2006, Ingrid Esteves, Quiroz, Ingrid Esteves' mother, and Ingrid Esteves and Angel Esteves' young son went out together in Quiroz's car, Dowd said.

Defense attorneys said there was a fifth person with the group. The attorneys failed to identify the person in their opening statements.

After luring Angel Esteves to Ontario and ambushing him, Quiroz and Ingrid Esteves fled the shooting scene and got back into Quiroz's car, Dowd said.

Ingrid Esteves' mother asked them about gunshots, Dowd said. "You didn't hear anything -- forget it," Ingrid Esteves responded, Dowd told jurors.

After the shooting, the group went to eat at a local Jack in the Box restaurant, Dowd said.

Quiroz returned home at about 3 a.m. on Aug. 2. His sister told authorities that Quiroz "seemed out of it," Dowd said.

Quiroz admitted to his mother that he and some friends had shot someone, Dowd told jurors.
When he was arrested later that day at his job, police found gunshot residue on his hands, Dowd said.

Following opening statements, Dowd called three nearby residents to the witness stand who said they saw portions of the incident or heard gunshots.

Two Ontario police officers who responded to the scene also testified today.

Testimony is set to resume Tuesday morning in West Valley Superior Court.

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