news-record.com

GREENSBORO — A man accused of stabbing to death his ex-girlfriend on Christmas Day in 2006 could face life in prison if convicted this week.

The first-degree murder trial of Juan Carlos Olivo Ramirez, 28 , began Monday in Guilford County Superior Court.

Ramirez is accused of killing 17-year-old April Caldwell , the mother of his son. He also faces two counts of attempted murder for allegedly chasing after Caldwell’s two roommates with a knife when they tried to intervene. Caldwell was stabbed 17 times, police said at a previous hearing for Ramirez.

Federal marshals captured Ramirez in September 2007 in Flagstaff, Ariz., after Caldwell’s story appeared on “America’s Most Wanted.”

Before jury selection began Monday, Ramirez tried to get Judge A. Leon Stanback Jr. to toss out a confession taken by officials in Arizona. Ramirez argued that he didn’t realize he was speaking to law enforcement but rather, his attorneys.

Stanback denied the request.

Ramirez, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks, sat with his head bowed. Behind him sat his sister and brother-in-law, along with a handful of others.

Caldwell’s family and friends filled two rows.

Shortly before 5 p.m., prosecutor Kelly Thompson and defense attorney Wayne Baucino agreed on a seven-woman, five-man jury with one alternate. The trial continues this morning with opening arguments.

Caldwell’s death is one of several high-profile cases involving domestic violence in the courts this year. In each case, the woman had left or was trying to leave her partner.

“What we do know, when a woman leaves a relationship, that is the most dangerous time,” said Julie Avery , victim advocacy program coordinator of Family Service of the Piedmont.

Officials at their two shelters in Greensboro and High Point are seeing higher levels of violence in women seeking help from abusive relationships, Avery said.

Last month, a judge sentenced DeCarlo Rayshaun Bennett, 29 , to at least 13 years in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend, Sherri Jackson, in November 2006 . Jackson’s family members wondered for more than a year what had happened to her. They didn’t know for sure until Bennett confessed as part of a plea deal on June 26 and revealed where he buried Jackson.

In April, a man released on a written promise to appear in court after allegedly choking a woman was arrested three days later on charges he beat her unconscious at a High Point shelter where she sometimes volunteered. Phillip J. Holland, 37 , pleaded guilty Aug. 20 and was sentenced to at least one year and seven months in prison, court records show.

On Feb. 15 , Del Ray Wilson, 30, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the Dec. 17, 2006 , shooting death of his estranged wife. He received a minimum 30 years in prison for shooting Rebecca Ann Wilson, 23 , in the face with a .12-gauge shotgun while she sat in her car in the parking lot of her Greensboro apartment . The two had been separated for about three months and Rebecca Wilson had taken out restraining orders against her husband, records show.

Ramirez and Caldwell had been dating for years. He faces an additional charge of statutory rape for when Caldwell was underage during that relationship, court records show.

Caldwell’s friends described Ramirez as possessive. On the day of her death, Caldwell had ended her relationship with Ramirez, friends told police.

David, Caldwell and Ramirez’ son, who is now 3 years old, is being raised by Caldwell’s parents.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com