The girlfriend of fatal shooting victim Ruben Velazquez of Orange Cove was overcome with emotion Wednesday as she testified about seeing her boyfriend and the father of her child killed.
Destiny Renteria left the courtroom in tears after being asked by the prosecutor why she was having a hard time testifying.
“Because I saw him (Velazquez) die in front of my face,” she said as she was escorted from the courtroom.
She returned about 10 minutes later and resumed testifying.
Renteria, her sister Ashley and shooting victim Fernando Diaz are key witnesses in the preliminary hearing for Sage Martinez, 24, and Ethan Lopez, 18. The two Orange Cove brothers are charged with murder and attempted murder.
Judge Heather Mardel Jones on Thursday found there was enough evidence for the brothers to face a jury trial. They will be arraigned on Feb. 15 in Dept. 31.
Martinez is being defended by Jonathan Richter and Lopez is represented by Greg Goss. David Olmos is the prosecutor.