Hearing begins for suspects in murder of Kerman farmer

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A hearing began Wednesday for four people charged with killing a Kerman farmer who interrupted a stolen car being stripped of parts.

New details were revealed in the murder of Kerman farmer George Salwasser, Jr. Cameras weren't allowed to shoot video of the four suspects charged with his killing, but Action News learned who detectives believe fired the gun that killed Salwasser and how they found him.

"He was face down on the ground between the white work truck and the cement slab," said Fresno County Sheriff's Det. Donna Davis.

Fresno County sheriff's deputies testified Wednesday a stolen car and a promise to sell the rims to a friend took a violent turn when an innocent farmer questioned the suspects about what they were doing on his property. Salwasser caught them taking apart the car back on May 8 of this year.

"The jack handle was on the outside of the truck on the cement slab," said Davis.

Investigators say Adrian Aceves and his girlfriend's brother, Fabian Mansanalez, stole a pickup truck that morning. Aceves told deputies he found someone, Jose Canas, who he called "shy boy," who wanted to buy them for $350.

That afternoon, Aceves met up with Canas in a vacant field in Kerman to take off the rims, but they were interrupted by Salwasser. Aceves told deputies he got scared and started walking away, and that's when he heard three gunshots.

The deputy testified, "Aceves says when he heard the gunshots he looked back and saw the white male lying by the work truck and he saw 'shy boy' running in his direction."

Deputy Hector Palma then says Aceves called his girlfriend, Maria Mansanalez, and her brother, Fabian, who came and picked him up. Maria and Aceves were later arrested after she crashed her car while leaving the scene, believing that she was being followed.

Maria Mansanalez's attorney questioned the deputy about the fact that his client and her brother weren't even at the scene when the murder take place.

"Did Mr. Aceves give any indication in his statement, that Maria Mansanalez was present when the shooting was going on?" the defense attorney asked.

"No," the sheriff's deputy said.

All four suspects are facing murder charges because the killing happened in the commission of another felony they're accused of. Testimony will continue Thursday, at which point a judge will ultimately decide what charges each suspect will face.