Act of anger or self defense? Trial underway for murder of Pontiac man by former girlfriend – The Oakland Press

Witness testimony will begin Wednesday afternoon in Oakland County Circuit Court for the case against a Pontiac woman on trial for the fatal shooting of her child’s father more than two years ago.

Solana Cervantes, 26, faces charges of homicide and felony firearm for the death of Rolando Rosario, Jr. on Nov. 3, 2019.

Rosario was shot at Cervantes’ home on Cherry Hill Drive where he had been caring for the couple’s child, then age 3. Cervantes had reportedly been out with her boyfriend and other friends that night, returning home at around 3 a.m. The shooting happened less than an hour later.

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Cervantes’ attorney, Paulette Loftin, says it was done in self-defense.

In his opening statement Tuesday afternoon, assistant prosecutor Christopher George told jurors they will hear from witnesses who will testify about Cervantes and her boyfriend returning to the home after an evening of dancing — and that they were embroiled in an argument fueled by jealousy. Witnesses will further testify to Cervantes remaining in a foul mood after her boyfriend left, and that her anger spilled over to Rosario — ending in his death, George said.

George also claims that Cervantes changed her story several times when interviewed by authorities after the shooting and that she concocted a false tale that Rosario had been physically assaulting her.

“The defendant simply indulged her anger…and she shot him in anger,” George said. She “probably regretted it (afterward) and (realized) she made a mistake,” he said, but it still resulted “in Rolando being in the ground.”

Yet defense attorney Paulette Loftin said the case “hinges on the credibility of witnesses.”

The evidence, she said, will show that Cervantes was the victim of domestic violence that night, with Rosario choking and punching her — and she “panicked for her life.”

“She believed she was going to be killed, and she defended her own life,” Loftin said.

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The assault was uncharacteristic of Rosario — which explains why there were no prior complaints of domestic violence involving him, Loftin added.