A trial was held on Monday morning at the Maricopa Superior Courthouse, for a defendant whose secure bond was set at a million dollars, where the state motioned to hold the trial in light of new evidence that could exonerate the defendant.
Jose Ubaldo Rubio Figueroa, 52, pled not guilty to the stabbing and killing of his ex-girlfriend in June of last year at her Phoenix barbershop, after the ex-girlfriend had served Figueroa with an order of protection 2 months prior to the attack, according to an article previously written by abc15.
The state’s motion to hold off on the trial due to the newly discovered evidence was granted for 60 days instead of the originally proposed 30-45. The state was unclear as to what exactly the evidence was but insisting it would strengthen both the defendant and the state’s case.
Figueroa’s counsel had argued a settlement case prior to this trial, though Figueroa had placed a motion to change councilors after feeling his current counsel had a conflict of interest and the doubt about the probability Figueroa will be successful during the trial.
The Judge denied the motion that was placed by Figueroa due to the inconvenience it would cause to the witnesses, the quality of counsel he would receive and also the fact that a new counsel would have the same bias and conflict of interest that his current council had.
This is not the first time the defendant has motioned for a new counsel, according to court documents; Figueroa also motioned to change councilors in October. The motion was granted then; Figueroa was assigned new representation within 5 days.
It was reported that Figueroa fled the scene in his ex-girlfriend’s car and a witness who was in a business next to the shop saw that the door was open, causing the witness to call 911 after discovering the body of the victim.
The defendant’s counsel had motioned to have records of the call released, according to court documents.
Figueroa later phoned the police claiming he was injured and at a local park where they discovered him and the victim’s car. He was arrested and questioned by police. Figueroa reported that the victim had invited him to her shop where she proceeded to attack him with a knife, and then turned the knife on her stabbing herself in the neck and chest, Figueroa tried to disarm her, according to an article previously written.
The defendant speaks only Spanish and requires a translator present in the courtroom and his formal charge is 1st-degree murder. The defendant will remain in custody until his set trial date on August 7th.
Editor’s Note: Facts not independently verified by My Local News.