Two Plead Not Guilty in On-Ramp Slaying of Woman

Two men charged with murdering a mother in front of her children were ordered Wednesday to remain in County Jail without bail .

Both Brian Fletcher, 22, and Terrence Moord, 27, of San Diego, pleaded not guilty at the arraignment before San Diego Municipal Court Judge Larry Stirling.

The pair are charged with the June 20 slaying of Maria Estrada, 33, who was shot to death after she was stopped on the Market Street on-ramp to Interstate 15 at 3 a.m. by two men who asked for jumper cables to start a stalled taxi.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Rupert Linley told Stirling the pair had previous convictions and had also been convicted of escaping from jail.

Linley described the murder as “a cruel and callous shooting of a woman before four minor children and their grandmother.”

At that point, Moord said, “No!” and shook his head.

The pair expressed their irritation at television and newspaper photographers in the courtroom for their arraignment.

“All these . . . cameras, for something I didn’t do!” said Moord, punctuating his comment with an obscenity.

Initially, both men said they didn’t want to waive their right to a speedy preliminary hearing.

“I’m stretching all this out. Give me enough time to prove my innocence,” Moord told the judge.

Fletcher added: “The same thing he’s doing, I’m doing.”

When questioned another time whether they agreed to delay a preliminary hearing until Aug. 28, both defendants said yes. A bail review will be held Monday.

The prosecutor also said in court that the case is “potentially a special circumstances case,” in which the death penalty could be sought on grounds that the woman was killed during an attempted robbery. A decision on whether to charge special circumstances will probably not be made until after the preliminary hearing, said Linley.

Afterwards, Linley said “five days of extensive police work” solved the case. Without elaborating, the prosecutor said a taxicab driver was shot at recently, and evidence in that shooting led to the arrest of both men for murder.

Linley would not say which man is believed to have shot Estrada as she drove away from the men on the freeway.

“We haven’t located a weapon yet,” said Linley.

Estrada was driving home from a niece’s birthday party when she encountered two men near a stalled taxi cab. The men asked for jumper cables, which authorities believe was only a ruse for robbery.

Estrada was shot in the head but drove away, collapsing after leaving the freeway at the next exit.

Fletcher had been arrested June 23 on a charge of firing a gun at a taxi driver, and Moord was arrested June 26 on an auto theft charge.