Selena's killer asking for new trial

The Associated Press

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas Ÿ The woman convicted of killing Tejano singing star Selena is asking for a new trial, claiming at least one juror was biased and key financial documents were kept from her original trial.

A motion for a new trial filed Monday on behalf of Yolanda Saldivar says juror Jose Estimbo actually knew a member of the singer's family, a fact he denied during jury selection for the three-week trial in Houston.

It said Estimbo was in fact a close friend of an unidentified uncle of the singer, Selena Quintanilla Perez.

Estimbo, 30, said he does not know the Quintanillas. However, he told The Associated Press on Monday that his brother Ÿ also named Jose Ÿ is familiar with a member of the Quintanilla family and didn't inform him before jury selection began Oct. 9.

Estimbo said everyone knows him as Frank Estimbo. His middle name is Francisco, while his brother Jose's middle name is Elizardo. He said his brother once fired the woman who raised the issue.

There is no telephone number listed for the brother in the Houston or Corpus Christi areas.

The new trial motion also complains that prosecutors kept financial documents of Selena's businesses from being admitted during trial.

Prosecutors intimated that Ms. Saldivar was suspected of embezzling from the singer's businesses, but never introduced documents to prove that.

Ms. Saldivar began serving a life prison term last week.

Nueces County District Attorney Carlos Valdez said there is no truth to the motion and that it is vague.

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