Trial Begins For Men Accused Of Shooting Baby In Head, Killing Father

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The suspects in the nearly 7-year-old murders of a father and his 7-month-old baby are on trial for their suspected crimes.

It took a long time for the case to come together, but the two suspects are now on trial for the death of Sean Aquitania and point-blank killing of his son, Sean Aquitania Jr.

The Aquitania family spoke briefly as the accused killers' trial got underway on Monday.

"I'm just glad that this day is here today, and that we have our day in court," mother and grandmother of the victims Sarah Aquitania said.

Christopher Strong and Donald Ortez-Lucero are both accused of double murder with special circumstances.

Prosecutors say the father, with baby in tow, interrupted a home invasion robbery at a friend's home in the Florin area of Sacramento. The infant was shot in the head, while strapped in his car seat.

"For me, for my family, for everyone, it's just important to us," said the victims' wife and mother Monique De La Cruz. "It's a very important day. we've waited for this day a long time, and we're just happy to be here."

The case, which rocked the community, came together four years after the slayings, when according to testimony, Richard Noguera allegedly told a woman he had killed before.

In a later interview, he would tell detectives he was lying, saying his roommates, Strong and Ortez-Lucero said they committed the murders.

He told us in a jailhouse interview he didn't do it.

"I'd never want to see nobody's child suffer like that," he said. "It's a terrible crime."

Noguera was eventually released. Defense attorneys argued in court on Monday that he shouldn't have been.

For the family, it's about justice.

"We love them so much and this is to show our support and love to them," De La Cruz said .