Mother's tears interrupt murder trial

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The mother of a man on trial for murder interrupted the case Monday with tears and an accusation.

Michelle Jimenez was beaten to death in September 2012. Her boyfriend is accused of the crime.

Gabriel Rosiles' family played a critical role in the incident. His mother was the first person he called after Michelle was killed, and his brother was the first one to talk to 911 dispatchers. Both of them were very emotional in court Monday.

Caroline Rosiles was already in tears when she walked into court to testify in the murder trial against her son.

"Mrs. Rosiles asked me, motioned to me to talk to me, told me she is being harassed by people outside in the hallway," said Ty Kharazi, the defense attorney for Gabriel Rosiles. "That's why she was so emotional."

The judge decided there was no evidence of threats by two young women who were friends with Michelle Jimenez, the 30-year-old woman who was beaten to death.

Gabriel Rosiles was her boyfriend and he now stands accused of being her killer as well. But both his mother and brother said they couldn't remember the details they originally told detectives that led to Gabriel's arrest.

"'He said that Michelle had fell in the shower and that's all I know,'" said prosecutor William Terrence. "Did you say that to Detective (Hector) Palma on Sept. 27, 2012?"

"I don't remember," said Caroline Rosiles.

Eliberto Rosiles was just a teenager when he had to try CPR on his brother's girlfriend. He also had the phone in hand for a 911 call on which you hear the voices of three Rosiles brothers.

"I didn't know she was dead, Gabriel," said Eliberto Rosiles.

"They're going to think we did it," said Samuel Rosiles.

"I don't want to stay here either," Gabriel Rosiles said.

Eliberto now denies seeing much trauma on the body of Michelle Jimenez. That's a far cry from the bruising he described to a detective or the description he gave during the 911 call.

"That was your voice that said 'She's all beat up', correct?" Terrence asked Eliberto Rosiles.

"Yes," the youngest Rosiles said.

"Why did you say that?" Terrence asked.

"I was scared," said Eliberto Rosiles. "I didn't know what to do. I'd never seen a dead body before."

Gabriel has a long history of domestic violence arrests and convictions. But the house also had a history, including two recent homicides for which Michelle Jimenez's family members were later convicted.