WOODLAND -- The man who Yolo County prosecutors say was the target of a murder plot resulting in the killing of a California Highway Patrol officer testified Friday that he was on good terms with one of the convicted killers.
Doug Shamberger said he and Gregory Zielesch drank beer together and worked on their cars shortly before CHP Officer Andy Stevens was gunned down on a county road near Woodland on Nov. 17, 2005.
Prosecutors alleged at trial that Zielesch and convicted triggerman Brent Volarvich had plotted to kill Shamberger, who was seeing Zielesch's estranged wife.
But Volarvich was pulled over on a traffic stop by Stevens before he got to Shamberger, prosecutors alleged.
Volarvich killed Stevens with a single shot to the face to avoid arrest, they told jurors.
Both Volarvich and Zielesch were convicted of first degree murder in May after a three-month trial, and Volarvich was sent to death row at San Quentin.
Zielesch, who faces a possible life in prison without parole, has yet to be sentenced.
His lawyer has moved for a new trial on the basis of Shamberger's new testimony. He was been called to testify during the trial, but had invoked the 5th Amendment to avoid incriminating himself. Shamberger is being prosecuted on unrelated crimes.
But after Zielesch was convicted, Shamberger came forward and said he was morally compelled to testify in order to aid Zielesch, the lawyer said.
Testimony was to continue Monday afternoon.
WOODLAND -- The man who Yolo County prosecutors say was the target of a murder plot resulting in the killing of a California Highway Patrol officer testified Friday that he was on good terms with one of the convicted killers and that his friend didn't plot to kill him.
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