Prosecution Tries to Show Soto Did Not Report Abuse

Launching their rebuttal case, Ventura County prosecutors tried to show jurors Tuesday that murder defendant Gladis Soto had ways to escape an abusive relationship other than killing her husband.

Prosecutors called to the stand probation officer Isaiah Muro, who told the jury that a month before the slaying he encouraged Soto to call him or police if she had any trouble with her spouse.

They also presented evidence that Soto never sought medical attention from local hospitals or assistance from Interface, a social services agency that works with domestic-violence victims.

Soto and husband Pedro Alba had a rocky--and sometimes volatile--marriage that defense attorneys say eventually pushed their client into a severe depression and caused her to fear for her life.

The 38-year-old defendant, a housewife with five children, has admitted that she fatally shot Alba on Feb. 20 after he allegedly raped her in the bedroom of their Ventura apartment.

Hours later, Soto cut off Alba’s head and limbs, concealed the remains in trash bags and burned the remains in the Ventura River bottom.

She is now facing charges of murder; defense attorneys are pushing for a lesser charge of manslaughter. Soto’s trial, now in its fifth week, is expected to wrap up Friday. If convicted of murder, Soto faces 50 years to life in prison.

For the past week and a half, Soto’s defense attorneys have presented evidence through the testimony of friends, relatives and a Catholic priest who said the defendant had been beaten and was fearful of her spouse.

The witnesses told jurors that Soto attributed her injuries, including a broken leg, black eyes and bruises, to spousal abuse.

In closing their case Monday, the defense called psychologist Nancy Kaser-Boyd, who testified that Soto was a battered wife suffering depression, heightened anxiety and trauma as a result of being abused.

On Tuesday, prosecutors sought to refute some of that evidence. They called Muro to testify about his observations of the couple in the months before the slaying.

He told jurors that when he served as Alba’s probation officer, he never saw Soto bruised or showing outward signs of suffering from domestic violence.

Alba was not hostile toward his wife, Muro said, telling jurors that he saw no indications that the husband posed an increasing risk to his wife and family.

But on cross-examination, Muro also recalled that as far back as June 1996, Soto reported being scared of her husband and fearful of Alba finding out that she had talked to authorities.

In August 1997, she reported that Alba twisted her arms, called her a vile name and touched her in a sexual way that made her uncomfortable. Muro said Alba was arrested the same month for shoving his wife into a stove.

When Alba found out his wife had sought a restraining order after that incident, he cried and told Muro, “He may as well put a bullet in his head,” the probation officer told the jury.

Testimony is scheduled to resume today.