Murder hearing postponed for Agoura woman

By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

The preliminary hearing setting for April Soma, the Agoura Hills woman accused of murdering her husband on New Year’s Eve, was postponed by Van Nuys Superior Court until Feb. 25. If both parties are prepared at this time, the preliminary hearing date will be scheduled. No testimony is expected at the preliminary hearing setting.

Soma pleaded not guilty at her arraignment earlier this month and is in jail on $2 million bail, according to Sandi Gibbons, public information officer at the Los Angeles district attorney’s office.

Andrea Thompson, a Los Angeles deputy district attorney, is prosecuting the case. Thompson said that although a defendant has the right to a preliminary hearing within 10 days of being arraigned, it’s not unusual to postpone a hearing in a murder case.

"It’s common to get extra time," Thompson said. "There is a lot of material that has to be gathered by both sides."

The "discovery" process involves the review of autopsy reports, police reports and other evidence, she said.

Soma is charged with one count of murder with special allegations for using a firearm, Thompson said.

Gibbons said that Soma faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Soma’s attorney is Jeffrey Trelour, who was unavailable for comment.

Soma, 44, is accused of fatally shooting her 34-year-old husband, Michael Soma, on Dec. 31 in the 28000 block of Via Amistosa, in Agoura Hills.

He was found dead on a neighbor’s lawn two doors from the couple’s home, according to officials. Authorities said that the shooting may have stemmed from a domestic dispute.

Soma was shot several times with a handgun, according to a Lost Hills sheriff’s deputy.

Det. Ty Labbe´ of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said, "It’s pretty cut and dry. It is what it is." He explained that police interviewed Soma, but the information could not be disclosed.