Spring Valley
Jury selection began Tuesday in the double-murder trial of a Spring Valley man accused of shooting a couple in his apartment complex.
Francisco Urias Uriarte, 32, is charged with killing Jeffrey Constantino, 37, and his wife, Nancy Constantino, 36, on Oct. 15, 1987, while they visited one of Uriarte’s neighbors.
Uriarte is also accused on two counts of attempted murder in the wounding of John Alva, 34, whose apartment the couple was visiting, and Tom Eberwein, 33.
Special-circumstance allegations have been filed, but Deputy Dist. Atty. Greg Walden said his office will seek a prison term without possibility of parole if Uriarte is convicted, instead of the death penalty.
According to testimony at the Feb. 8, 1988, preliminary hearing, Uriarte went to Alva’s apartment with a gun and demanded that the group turn over Uriarte’s wife, whom Uriarte apparently believed was being held hostage.
Walden said Uriarte had traces of cocaine in his system after his arrest.
The Constantinos had two children, who are being cared for by relatives.
The prosecutor said jury selection should take about a week in the courtroom of San Diego Superior Court Judge Bernard Revak.
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