Crime & Safety

Guilty Verdict in Michelle Le Murder Trial

Le, 26, a former Mt. Carmel High School student, went missing in May 2011.

Giselle Esteban has been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of former Mount Carmel High School student Michelle Le.

Le, a 26-year-old nursing student in the Bay Area, disappeared from her hospital job on May 27, 2011 in Hayward, CA. Her body was found four months later after many searches and vigils, including one in Rancho Peñasquitos hosted by family and friends.

Esteban and Le had been friends in high school, but the relationship had fallen apart. Esteban, 28, mistakenly thought Le was having an affair with the father of Esteban's child, prosecutors said.

Find out what's happening in Rancho Bernardo-4s Ranchwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to a report on Union City Patch:

Esteban's lawyer, Andrea Auer, admitted that Esteban killed Le but said she was provoked and acted in the heat of passion, and should only be convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

Find out what's happening in Rancho Bernardo-4s Ranchwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Auer conceded that Esteban had sent dozens of threatening text messages and waited for Le in the Kaiser parking lot for hours until Le went to her car at about 7 p.m. on May 27, 2011, during a break in her classes, and that there was some type of confrontation.

But she said, "You don't know who started it, what was said and what happened."

For more, visit Union City Patch.

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