Trial begins for Irvine man accused of murdering wife over suspicion of affair

A murder trial began Thursday for a man accused of strangling his wife to death in their Irvine apartment in 2012.

Prosecutors allege that Shalabh Rastogi, 42, attacked his wife, Jalina George, 40, during an argument because he believed she was having an affair.

Rastogi now faces one count of murder in Orange County Superior Court.

According to grand jury testimony from police detectives, Rastogi became suspicious in April 2012 when he discovered that his wife was taking birth control medication even though he’d had a vasectomy years earlier.

Rastogi told police that George admitted to the affair after originally denying it, according to court records.

Police told the grand jury that the couple were arguing about their relationship on the night of May 21, 2012, when Rastogi “snapped” and grabbed George around the throat. Around 9:40 that night, prosecutors allege, Rastogi called police and admitted to killing her.

Officers testified that they arrested Rastogi and found George’s body in the closet of the couple’s apartment in the 600 block of Monte Vista.

Rastogi and George had been married 14 years and had three children together, according to prosecutors.

Police said the children were at theater practice at the time of the slaying.