Witnesses testify in murder hearing

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Four witnesses testified in the preliminary hearing of a man accused of murdering his ex-wife near Calexico in 2021.

One of the witnesses was the deputy who found the victim at her home.

New details leading up to the murder and the day of the murder came to light at the preliminary hearing.

“Usually when it goes to trial it has to go through a preliminary examination to see if there is enough probable cause to go to the next step which is a jury trial,” said Criminal Defense Attorney Armando Galvan.

Three of the witnesses said they worked with 41-year-old Antonio Campos Ramirez when 43-year-old Rose Campos was murdered.

One witness testified that Antonio Campos asked him if he could park his car at their home and put his bike in the witness's truck's bed because Campos was having issues with his mother-in-law and other family members.

Campos picked the bike up the following day.

The prosecution said this is the same bike found at the murder scene.

The witness said he didn't hear from Campos again until a week before he was arrested for Rose's murder.

District Attorney George Marquez said this case is complicated due to the number of witnesses that will be testifying.

"It can take up a few days. So the attorney who was assigned to this case, he has basically the discretion to use the witnesses he has to provide his case. So there are multiple witnesses in this case its a complicated case," stated Imperial County District Attorney George Marquez.

The defense team also spoke out.

"We will wait to see what the District Attorney's Office through their witnesses has to offer then we will determine if there is enough evidence," said Criminal Defense Attorney Armando Galvan.

The preliminary hearing is expected to last up to three days.

If probable cause is found, the case will move forward to the Imperial County Superior Court which will be determined by Judge Poli Flores Jr.