A Newark man has been ordered to stand trial for murder.
Superior Court Judge Dennis J. McLaughlin announced Tuesday that Jason Otis Monroe, 33, of Newark, will be put on trial for a murder in connection to the April 2011 stabbing death of his girlfriend.
Monroe to the murder charge on Nov. 4.
The decision came after a two-day preliminary examination that included testimonies from three witnesses who were questioned at the Fremont Hall of Justice.
Inspector Gus Galindo said during the final preliminary hearing on Tuesday that a coroner determined that the stabbing victim, Evangeline Supena Contillo, had sustained 37 injuries at the time of her death.
Contillo was inside of a one-story Newark home on Cherry Street around 11:30 a.m. on April 27, 2011. She was 25.
Contillo’s mother, who was accompanied by her husband and niece, wept in the Fremont courtroom as the inspector described Contillo’s injuries.
On Tuesday, Galindo said Contillo’s death resulted from multiple stab wounds, blunt trauma and loss of blood. Galindo’s statements were based on conclusions founded by a coroner with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau who performed an autopsy on the victim.
While Galindo was questioned about Contillo’s injuries, Monroe sat shackled and handcuffed to a chair.
He remained quiet with his shoulders up and head slumped throughout the 20-minute court proceeding – a much different vision than Monday when he disrupted his mother in an angry outburst and frequently uttered brief statements as his mother and Newark Police Det. Dan Anderson took the witness stand.
The focus of the Monday preliminary examination centered around Monroe announced during his outburst.
After Galindo was dismissed from the witness stand, Deputy District Attorney Autrey B. James requested that McLaughlin order Monroe to stand trial based on the statements made by Monroe’s mother, Belinda Monroe, Anderson and Galindo.
James’ said the District Attorney office's stance was based on the following findings made during the preliminary examination:
- Jason Monroe was found to be the only person inside of the home at the time of the killing, according to statements made by Belinda Monroe.
- The defendant admitted to police officers that he stabbed Contillo, according to Anderson’s accounts.
- Galindo confirmed that Contillo died from injuries she sustained from the April 2011 incident.
- Jason Monroe violated a court order barring him from the home and Contillo that was in effect at the time of her killing.
James said that Jason Monroe’s violation of the Contillo had against him led to her murder.
McLaughlin found Monroe guilty of violating that court order and ordered he serve 120 days in jail, which he was immediately credited for. Monroe continues to be held at Santa Rita Jail on no bail.
Jason Monroe was ordered to appear at the Hayward Hall of Justice on June 6, which is when the District Attorney's Office is expected to file charges
