Prosecution testimony was underway Wednesday in the trial of a 52-year-old man accused of gunning down his cousin just over two decades ago during a dispute at the victim’s house party in Riverside.
Luis Contreras is charged with first-degree murder and a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a firearm in the commission of a felony for the 2005 slaying of 38-year-old Alfonso Vera.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jerry Yang seated a jury last week for Contreras’ trial at the Riverside Hall of Justice. Court records indicated the prosecution and defense delivered opening statements before the weekend, and the government’s initial witnesses were called Tuesday…