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November 24, 2009

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Trial set in killing of woman in front of child

By Matt Pordum (contact)

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004 | 9:56 a.m.

A Mexican citizen accused of kidnapping and killing his estranged wife in front of their 11-year-old daughter and two police officers pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

His trial was scheduled for June 27 before District Judge Nancy Saitta.

Carlos Ortiz, 44, faces the death penalty if convicted for the Sept. 28 murder of his wife, Maria Ortiz.

The couple's daughter testified that on the night of her mother's death her father "had beer on his breath" and was angry about rumors that her mother was dating another man.

According to police, two officers were giving a traffic ticket to another driver in the 400 block of North Eastern Avenue about 1:40 a.m. Saturday when a small sedan pulled alongside their squad car and honked.

The officers said they heard a woman scream and then saw Ortiz grab the woman and shoot her in the head.

Ortiz then threw the pistol out of the window and was immediately arrested, police said. Maria Ortiz died at the scene of the shooting. Their daughter was in the back seat of the car.

Police said Ortiz had been arrested in the past for alleged domestic violence. Earlier that morning he was in a fight with his wife, then allegedly kidnapped her and their daughter at gunpoint and made his wife drive around, police said.

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