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Trial starts in Carlsbad murder-for-hire case

Update

4:15 p.m. OCT. 17 | A judge will hear pretrial motions tomorrow in the case against a woman and her gun instructor, who are accused of carrying out a plan to shoot her estranged husband on a dark dirt road in Carlsbad last year.

Diana Lovejoy, 44, and Weldon McDavid Jr., 50, are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder in the Sept. 1, 2016, attack on 45-year-old Greg Mulvihill, who was wounded in the 11 p.m. shooting.

Police allege Lovejoy and McDavid planned the crime and that the latter – – who worked at a gun range where Lovejoy was taking marksmanship lessons — called the victim, arranged to meet him in the alley and opened fire on him with a rifle while hiding in a patch of bushes.

Court records indicated Lovejoy and Mulvihill were in the midst of a contentious divorce, and that she had obtained a restraining order against him on accusations of emotional and sexual abuse.

McDavid faces 50 years to life behind bars if convicted, and Lovejoy could be sentenced to 25 years to life if she’s found guilty. Jury selection is expected to begin Monday at the Vista Courthouse.

Earlier

8:16 a.m. OCT. 17 | VISTA – Trial is scheduled to begin today for a woman and her gun instructor accused of carrying out a plan to shoot her estranged husband on a dark dirt road in Carlsbad last year.

Diana Lovejoy, 44, and Weldon McDavid Jr., 50, are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder in the Sept. 1, 2016, attack on 45-year-old Greg Mulvihill, who was wounded in the 11 p.m. shooting.

Police said they believed Lovejoy and McDavid planned the crime and that the latter — who worked at a gun range where Lovejoy was taking marksmanship lessons — called the victim, arranged to meet him in the alley and opened fire on him with a rifle while hiding in a patch of bushes.

Court records indicated Lovejoy and Mulvihill were in the midst of a contentious divorce, and that Lovejoy had obtained a restraining order against Mulvihill, accusing him of emotional and sexual abuse.

McDavid faces 50 years to life behind bars if convicted, and Lovejoy could be sentenced to 25 years to life if she’s found guilty.