La Canada Flintridge : Discrepancy in Miralle Trial

Defense attorneys for Donald Miralle of La Canada Flintridge pounced on discrepancies about the size of a shoe print discovered near the burned body of Miralle’s wife, Tessie, on a desert road near Victorville.

Trial began last month for Miralle, 47, who is accused of killing his 49-year-old wife last year.

San Bernardino County sheriff’s crime lab expert Katherine Wojcik testified Tuesday that the print, measured from a photograph, was 11 1/2 inches long, the length of a men’s size 10 shoe.

An earlier prosecution witness, homicide Detective Mike Madril, had said he measured the actual print at 10 inches, which would be size 9 1/2. Deputy Dist. Atty. Elizabeth Elwood said later that Madril would return to the stand to explain what she said was his error.

Miralle, a Pasadena civil engineer, wears a size 10. As the prosecution case ended Wednesday, defense lawyers said they planned to use the discrepancy to their advantage. “He can’t possibly get into a shoe 10 inches long,” attorney Brent Carruth said outside court. “Doesn’t that prove he didn’t do it?”