Friday, July 13, 2012

A judge has ordered trial for a Northern California woman charged with pouring boiling water on her sleeping ex-husband in a jealous rage over another woman.

Prosecutors say 39-year-old Jesusa Tatad pulled back the sheets covering 36-year-old Ronnie Tatad and tossed a pot of boiling water on him. Authorities say she then clubbed him with a baseball bat as he screamed in pain.

Although divorced, the couple shared a small Daly City apartment.

Ronnie Tatad died two weeks later.

Prosecutors say the defendant believed her ex-husband was seeing another woman. A defense attorney disputes the prosecution's characterization of the case.

A San Mateo County judge ruled at the end of Thursday's preliminary hearing that there was enough evidence to order trial.

Jesusa Tatad is charged with murder and torture in the November attack.

She has pleaded not guilty and is in jail without bail pending arraignment July 31.