Former Calif. College Principal Killed For Life Insurance coverage, Police Allege

After months of delays, the homicide trial of former elementary college principal Leslie Likelihood is about to get underway.

Likelihood, 52, is accused of taking pictures her husband to dying in August 2013, and leaving his physique close to a industrial orchard a number of miles northwest of Bakersfield.

In line with a supply at Kern County Superior Courtroom, Choose Charles R. Brehmer laid out a tentative schedule Tuesday for the trial, which is anticipated to final effectively into August.

Starting Thursday, the court docket will hear motions in limine, a Latin time period referring to motions made earlier than a trial begins. These motions search to keep away from having the jury tainted by irrelevant, inadmissible, or prejudicial proof.

These limine motions could final three or 4 weeks.

"You do not need to choose a jury till the limine motions are full -- till you understand the form of the proof," stated longtime Bakersfield lawyer Kyle Humphrey, who will not be concerned within the Likelihood case.

Choose Brehmer, Humphrey stated, is environment friendly at shifting by means of such proceedings.

Jury choice is ready to start in late June. The purpose is to have a jury chosen earlier than the Fourth of July vacation. Opening statements are tentatively scheduled to start July 16.

Likelihood has been charged with murdering her husband, 45-year-old Todd Likelihood, on Aug. 25, 2013. If convicted, she might face life in jail.

Prosecutors say the couple drove that morning to the world of Noriega Highway close to Enos Lane, the place Likelihood is alleged to have shot and killed her husband. Prosecutors say she deserted the automobile in a close-by neighborhood and returned residence by taxi and on foot.

Likelihood was first arrested days after her husband's physique was discovered, however was launched days later when prosecutors requested additional inquiry from investigators with the Kern County Sheriff's Workplace. She was arrested once more in December 2016.

Likelihood, who was principal at Fairview Elementary College throughout the time of the taking pictures, was anticipated to obtain round $250,000 from her husband's life insurance coverage insurance policies, based on court docket paperwork.

Steven Mayer could be reached at 661-395-7353. Observe him on Fb and on Twitter: @semayerTBC.

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