Evidence delays hearing in stabbing

PASADENA — A preliminary hearing for a 41-year-old San Gabriel man who is charged with stabbing and killing a Burbank resident was postponed due to new evidence.

Jorge Ernesto Villalobos was in a Pasadena Superior Court on Wednesday for a scheduled preliminary hearing.

Deputy District Atty. Stephanie Mire-Robinson and his attorney H. Russell Halpern agreed that the hearing should be held over to Oct. 22 because she presented new exhibits as part of her discovery evidence.

“We want our experts to look over [the evidence],” he said.

Halpern described the evidence as vital.

He had received the evidence Wednesday, Halpern told Judge Laura Priver in court.

Villalobos is accused of stabbing Glen Giles, 47, at his home in the 3000 block of Joaquin Drive.

Giles’ body was discovered Feb. 24 on a neighbor’s doorstep across the street, police said.

He suffered from multiple stab wounds.

Villalobos was arrested the next day and charged with murder.

Police said Villalobos’ motive for stabbing Giles may have been jealousy over a mutual friend, who Halpern said was the girlfriend of both men.

Giles was stabbed several times in his home either on the night of Feb. 23 or the following morning and ran to his neighbor’s house, police said.

Villalobos was being held at Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles on $1.02 million bail.

His friends and family sat in court Wednesday during the short proceedings.

 VERONICA ROCHA covers public safety and the courts. She may be reached at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.