SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to face trial today for strangling and murdering his wife in their Irvine apartment. Shalabh Rastogi, 42, Irvine, is charged with one felony count of murder.Opening statements are scheduled to begin today, Oct. 29, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. in Department C-43, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Rastogi is accused of having marital trouble with his 40-year-old wife Jalina George, with whom he had three school-aged children.

During the evening of May 21, 2012, the defendant is accused of strangling and murdering George in a bedroom of their Irvine apartment. He is accused of leaving the victim's body in the bedroom closet and calling the police later that night.

The Irvine Police Department, who investigated this case, immediately responded to the scene and arrested the defendant.

The couple's three children were not home at the time of the murder.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Herrera of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 12ZF0140 / October 29, 2015