UPDATE: Defense In Killing, Torching Trial Expected To Rest

UPDATE Feb. 9: Testimony concluded Wednesday in the trial of a Lake Elsinore man who allegedly killed his wife because she was divorcing him and then tried to torch her remains.

Roberto Gallardo Aguilar could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted in the May 22, 2009, death of 22-year-old Sharon Elizabeth Contreras. Along with first-degree murder, Aguilar is charged with felony witness intimidation.

The 29-year-old defendant's trial got under way on Jan. 23. The prosecution rested Monday, and Aguilar testified Tuesday, after which the defense rested.

Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Chris Peuvrelle submitted rebuttal evidence today. Closing statements are scheduled Thursday morning.

According to a trial brief filed by Peuvrelle, Aguilar and Contreras were in the midst of a divorce when she was killed. Witnesses told sheriff's investigators that the defendant stated on several occasions that "he would rather see Sharon dead than with someone else," according to the brief.

Aguilar also allegedly bragged to a friend that he had abused Contreras, stabbing her in the stomach with a knife and inflicting other wounds with impunity.

The couple, who had a son together, separated about a month before Contreras was killed, after she served him with divorce papers.

Around 1:45 on the morning of the murder, the defendant left his job at a Garden Grove nightclub without saying where he was going, Peuvrelle said. According to the prosecutor, Aguilar drove to Lake Elsinore, where Contreras was living in her father's house on Amorose Drive. Peuvrelle alleged that during a confrontation, the defendant smothered his wife.

Aguilar allegedly took the body to a deserted area near Temescal Canyon and Jeff roads and set it aflame. Passing motorists thought there was a small brush fire and called 911, leading to the discovery of Contreras' partially burned remains.

Four days later, Aguilar allegedly told a friend, Luis Sandoval, that he had gotten into a fight with Contreras and she was "La chinge," which roughly translated from Spanish means, "I (expletive) her up."

The defendant reported his wife missing to Garden Grove police, telling an investigator that they had gotten into an argument over $50, and she ran away.

During a later interview with a Riverside County sheriff's detective, Aguilar acknowledged that he had told Sandoval that he had killed Contreras, but didn't mean what he said, according to Peuvrelle.

The witness intimidation charge stemmed from an alleged note Aguilar left on Sandoval's car, advising him not to talk to police.

ORIGINAL POST: The defense is expected to rest today in the trial of a Lake Elsinore man who allegedly killed his wife then tried to torch her remains.

Roberto Gallardo Aguilar could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted in the May 22, 2009, death of 22-year-old Sharon Elizabeth Contreras. Along with first-degree murder, Aguilar is charged with felony witness intimidation.

The prosecution closed its case Monday.

Aguilar, who remains held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, is testifying in his own defense.

According to a trial brief filed by Deputy District Attorney Chris Peuvrelle, Aguilar, 29, and Contreras were in the midst of a divorce when she was killed. Witnesses told sheriff's investigators that the defendant stated on several occasions that "he would rather see Sharon dead than with someone else," according to the brief.

Aguilar also allegedly bragged to a friend that he had abused Contreras, stabbing her in the stomach with a knife and inflicting other wounds, according to court papers.

The couple, who had a son together, separated about a month before Contreras was killed, after she served him with divorce papers.

Around 1:45 on the morning of the murder, the defendant left his job at a Garden Grove night club without saying where he was going, Peuvrelle said. According to the prosecutor, Aguilar drove to Lake Elsinore, where Contreras was living in her father's house on Amorose Drive. Peuvrelle alleged that during a confrontation, the defendant smothered his wife.

The defendant allegedly took the body to a deserted area near Temescal Canyon and Jeff roads and set it aflame. Passing motorists thought there was a small brush fire and called 911, leading to the discovery of Contreras' partially burned remains.

Four days later, Aguilar allegedly told a friend, Luis Sandoval, that he had gotten into a fight with Contreras and she was "La chinge," which roughly translated from Spanish means, "I (expletive) her up."

The defendant reported his wife missing to Garden Grove police, telling an investigator that he and the victim had gotten into an argument over $50, and she ran away.

During a later interview with a Riverside County sheriff's detective, Aguilar acknowledged that he had told Sandoval that he had killed Contreras, but didn't mean what he said, Peuvrelle said.

The witness intimidation charge stemmed from an alleged note Aguilar left on Sandoval's car, advising him not to talk to police.