Witness Impugned as Murder Trial Begins

As trial began Monday for a 24-year-old man accused of murdering a good Samaritan who tried to foil a robbery, a defense attorney told jurors they could not trust a key witness.

Richard Chavarria, 24, of Santa Ana is accused of gunning down Margarito Pina Estrella, 32, of Santa Ana after the victim foiled Chavarria as he tried to steal a 61-year-old woman’s purse.

The prosecutor told the Orange County Superior Court jury Monday that several witnesses, including a friend of the defendant, will testify against Chavarria.

Defense attorney Donald Rubright portrayed the friend, Guy Maxwell, as a drug addict who was under the influence of heroin and has given conflicting statements about the July 1996 shooting and robbery in Santa Ana.