Yes, Jose Gasteazoro-Paniagua had just purchased a handgun before his former best friend was shot. And yes, as the prosecution alleges, he had a motive.
But is that enough?
While the defense suggests the attempted murder case is based on supposition, the prosecution continued to call witnesses to the stand Monday during his trial to allegedly show Gasteazoro-Paniagua, 33, of Vancouver had the weapon, was in the area and fled after Jose Muro was shot Dec. 30 at the Bi-Lo Market in Hazel Dell.
But a state’s witness close to Gasteazoro-Paniagua could only offer vague information Monday allegedly linking the defendant to the crime.
Dion Ibanez, the father of Gasteazoro-Paniagua’s girlfriend, told jurors he saw the defendant with a handgun the day before the shooting. When Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Vu asked him if he thought the gun was a .45 caliber — the type of firearm believed used in the shooting — Ibanez shrugged.
“To my observation, that’s what I thought it was,” Ibanez said. “But I never asked him.”
Ibanez said it was medium in size, but admitted during cross-examination that he didn’t know much about guns and had never owned one.
He also said he didn’t know why Gasteazoro-Paniagua had purchased the gun, only speculating it was for self-protection. “He didn’t say what he was going to do with the gun,” he said.
The prosecution alleges Gasteazoro-Paniagua shot Muro over a friendship rift involving a woman who had an affair with the defendant while dating Muro’s younger brother. Gasteazoro-Paniagua allegedly shot Muro five times while the victim was shelving beer in the back of the market. Muro was treated at Southwest Washington Medical Center and is recovering.
The trial in Clark County Superior Court Judge Rich Melnick’s courtroom began June 14. The prosecution will continue to call witnesses today, including a key jailhouse informant who claims Gasteazoro-Paniagua confessed details of the shooting over six weeks of conversations inside the Clark County Jail. The informant, Garold Jacobsen, is one of six charged in connection with the robbery and slaying of Vancouver resident Charles N. Moore.
Muro also is expected to testify today.
The prosecution expects to wrap up its case Thursday, followed by testimony from defense attorney Charles Buckley’s witnesses. The trial is scheduled to conclude Friday.
First-degree attempted murder carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Laura McVicker: 360-735-4516 or laura.mcvicker@columbian.com.
