LANCASTER – A murder trial began Monday for a 35-year-old man accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death with a sword in front of their young children at a Lancaster apartment in 2008.
Jesus “Chuey” Canales is charged with murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend, Lucy Preciado, 26, and four counts of child abuse. The case includes a special allegation of personal use of a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sword.
“This case is about cold callous murder,” Deputy District Attorney Seth Carmack told the jury during his opening statement Monday morning.
Eyewitness testimony from two of the couple’s children, plus facts and evidence, would prove that Canales murdered Preciado after a verbal argument during the early morning hours of July 12, 2008, Carmack told the jury. A recorded interview conducted with Canales after his capture would be played during the trial, as well, Carmack said.
Jurors would also hear from a neighbor, a sheriff’s detective and a medical examiner during the trial, the prosecutor said.
The evidence would show that Canales and Preciado were arguing over money, and during the argument, Preciado grabbed a bat, but did not use it on Canales, according to Carmack.
The prosecutor said Canales could have left the apartment, but instead he grabbed a sword and killed his girlfriend. The evidence would show that Canales slashed his girlfriend’s face with the sword, splitting her lower lip down to her chin; then Canales used the sword to deliver two more blows, each of them fatal, Carmack told the jury.
“He rammed it through her upper left chest, and he actually rammed it so far that it came out her back,” Carmack said. Canales then removed the sword and stabbed it several inches deep into Preciado’s back, Carmack added.
After killing his girlfriend, Canales fled the apartment, the prosecutor said, leaving four young children, including an eight-month-old baby, to deal with their dying mother.
The prosecutor played the 9-1-1 call made by Preciado’s young daughter. The child could be heard telling the operator, “My dad just stabbed my mom.” Later in the call, the child cries and pleads, “Hurry up… I don’t want my mom to die!” (Listen to the 9-1-1 call here.) At least one member of the jury dabbed away tears as the call was played inside the courtroom Monday.
The prosecutor asked jurors to put aside their emotions, and to rely only on facts and evidence when finding Canales guilty of murdering Lucy Preciado and endangering their four children.
Canales’ defense attorney deferred his opening statement Monday morning.
Testimony began with Patrick Gunn, who lived in a neighboring apartment at the time of Preciado’s death.
Gunn testified that he was working at his computer during the early morning hours of July 12, 2008, when he heard “an ongoing shouting match” that appeared to be coming from the couple’s apartment.
Sometime after, Gunn said he observed a “seemingly agitated” Canales walking down the stairs toward the garage, and then saw Canales’ vehicle “hurriedly leaving” the apartment complex.
Gunn said he then heard a “large, loud piercing scream” that seemed to be coming from a child. Other tenants began coming out of their apartments, Gunn testified. He said he entered Preciado’s apartment to offer assistance, and a small “extremely distraught” girl pointed him toward a bedroom.
Inside the bedroom, Preciado was hunched over in a corner, rocking back and forth, Gunn said.
He said he asked other tenants to remove the children from the apartment, as they waited for help to arrive.
The murder trial continued Monday afternoon and is expected to continue for the rest of the week, with more witness testimony.
If convicted as charged, Canales faces a maximum state prison sentence of 30 years to life.
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Previous related stories:
Trial ordered in 2008 sword killing
Man pleads not guilty in 2008 sword killing
Arraignment postponed in sword killing
Sword wielding murder fugitive arrested
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Mrs Walker says
I do agree there are people that abuse the system, but do not say we are all that way. I’m sure your $36 a year that gets taken out of your check really hurts right? A little research goes a long way. The amount tax payers pay for public assistance is minimal compared to all the money going to keep the rich richer. I am a taxpayer as well, working my way up to longer depend on calfresh to feed my kids so that people like you don’t look down on me everytime I pay with my EBT. God forbid poor kids have any ice cream or cookies!
PROROACH23@Gmail.com says
That MF used to play Mortal Kombat way 2 much my cousin lived down stairs from him he was sharpering that sword for days he was planning that “FATALITY” he was just waiting 4 “FINISH HER”…
You says
Don’t procreate.
Redd says
This is crazy. I used to work with this guy at jiffy lube.. He was always a quite person. He was always cool as well. I can’t believe what I am hearing, along with reading. I am completely lost right now. Just can’t believe it.
Cali Palmdale says
OHHH wait good thing the Cops dint show up when he was leaving in his car and emptied there guns on him Because am sure lot of people would have said ohhhhh the cops killed him they dint have to kill him the cops are murderers… People this guy shouldn’t be alive he should been put to sleep as soon as they arrested him. this government needs to put new laws on special circumstances your a violent killer you will be put to sleep before this country goes all out of control IT SEEMS LIKE CRIMINALS HAVE MORE RIGHTS.
f says
Why is this guy out on bail ..i thought he is considered a flight risk
Cornholio says
*Is* he out on bail? The article doesn’t say he is. I agree, he is a huge flight risk considering he fled to Mexico the first time until he was caught 5 years later.
Anonymous says
No, he is not out on bail. LA Court website clearly states bail was set to NO BAIL.
Nenegurl says
Wow I’m really shocked on how long this took for them to figure that
Out .. This is so sad for the kids having to wait for this jerk to be
Sentanace.. What is up with the court system in the antelope valley.
Concerned says
Oh my goodness! The trauma the children faced! ;( VERY VERY sad situation, I pray that the kids, especially the one on the phone, have peace in their hearts. Oh, God, be with them!
Sad
jrl says
Those poor babies! Hopefully that parasite canales will “get got on the inside” that’s all he deserves in my opinion. I pray for those children who were abandoned by the coward who hurt and killed their momma. May she rest in peace. And may those children get the help, love/comfort and counseling they will need… so awful. :(
Ms SlimJim says
That 911 call is gut wrenching. He deserves the death penalty.
Kyle Tanner says
he wont get it now – that’s why he fled to mexico – they wont extradite anyone unless death penalty is taken off the table.
Mike says
All the death penalty means now in California is a life sentence on death row. They don’t actually execute anybody. So this waste-of-space will be living off the taxpayers for the rest of his life (he was probably living off the taxpayers anyhow – with Section 8, EBT, MediCal, WIC, General Relief, SSI disability, and everything else these bums live better than people who work – they sit on their fat asses all day watching their premium cable on their big screen TV’s, then get in their SUV’s and drive down to the market to get some ice cream and cookies with their CalFresh food stamps then stop at Jack in the box and spend $30 from EBT and eat half of it and throw the rest out their car window then drive home and park on the dead lawn of their Section 8 mansion then invite all their friends over on their Obama phone for an all night marijuana party.
MommaBear says
Speak on it, Mike! Could not have said it better myself.