Saldivar Loses Bid for New Trial in Murder of Selena

HOUSTON — A Texas judge Wednesday rejected convicted murderer Yolanda Saldivar’s plea for a new trial in the killing of Grammy Award-winning singer Selena.

Judge Mike Westergren, who presided over Saldivar’s three-week trial in October, dismissed defense claims that a key witness lacked credibility and that critical financial records from the singer’s business had been withheld during the trial.

“We are pleased by the judge’s ruling. We think it’s the correct ruling based on the evidence and the law presented,” said prosecutor Mark Skurka.

Saldivar’s attorney, Patrick McGuire, who was not immediately available for comment, was expected to appeal the decision.

A jury in October sentenced Saldivar, 35, to life in prison, the maximum allowed, for the March 31 shooting of Selena Quintanilla Perez. Selena, 23, was the queen of Tejano music and was poised to make the transition to American popular music with her first album recorded in English when she was gunned down at a Corpus Christi, Texas, motel.

In seeking the new trial, defense attorneys questioned the credibility of a Days Inn motel maid who they later learned had twice been convicted of misdemeanor theft. The maid testified she saw Saldivar chasing Selena and screaming at her after the shooting, contradicting defense claims that the shooting was accidental.

Defense attorneys also said they had been denied access to financial records that would have countered claims that Saldivar had embezzled money from Selena’s businesses.

In seeking a life sentence in the case, prosecutors said Saldivar shot the singer after being confronted about money missing from two clothing boutiques she managed for Selena.