Andrew Leon sat quietly in this Fresno County Courtroom on Friday morning as he faces a retrial for shooting and killing April Diaz in 2023 outside of her Huron home.
Diaz is the mother of his girlfriend at the time, whom he was trying to reach on that dark night.
Three people took the witness stand, starting with Ramona, Diaz’s neighbor.
RELATED: Officers, ex-girlfriend take stand in retrial of accused murderer Andrew Leon
The prosecutor painting a picture of that night from Ramona’s perspective, who says she recognized Diaz’s voice and looked out of her bedroom window multiple times, witnessing an argument before hearing gunfire.
“I start screaming,” Ramona said.
“Were you afraid at that time?” the prosecutor asked.
“Yes. I started screaming, and I grab my phone and I call 911,” she replied.
Ramona answered every question about what she recalled on that deadly night leading to an emotional testimony.
The defense emphasizing what she did not see.
“Just to clarify, you are not watching the moment immediately before the shooting?” defense attorney Brendan Bergh said.
“No,” Ramona replied.
Sgt. Christopher Johnson with the Marina Police Department also took the stand, recalling the night Leon turned himself in and drove him to Fresno County.
“People turning themselves in isn’t new, but turning yourself in for homicide, that is a new one for me,” Sgt. Johnson said.
Fresno County coroner Dr. Thomas Bennett testified last, explaining his profession and the specific manner in which he examines a body.
He shared with the jury why every detail matters and the story it tells, including the distance of a gunshot.
“The gunshot wounds to her chest were the cause of her death,” Dr. Bennett said.
“And in terms of her manner of death, do you have an opinion?” The prosecutor asked.
“This is a homicide,” he replied.
The trial is scheduled to continue on Tuesday morning and the jury is expected to go into deliberation later in the week.
For news updates, follow Elisa Navarro on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.