Shooting victim expected to testify against his attacker; Hearing moves forward in Kneeland marijuana murder case

◼ Shooting victim expected to testify against his attacker; Hearing moves forward in Kneeland marijuana murder case - TS

A Guatemalan man is scheduled to take the stand in Humboldt County Superior Court today to testify against the man who allegedly shot him in the face and back last year after a dispute at a marijuana grow operation near Kneeland.

Mikal Xylon Wilde, 29, of Eureka, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder and cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale. A preliminary hearing this week will culminate with a judge determining whether there is enough evidence to hold Wilde to stand trial.

Wilde is accused of shooting and killing Mario Roberto Juarez-Madrid, 40, of Guatemala, and seriously wounding Pedro Fernandez, also of Guatemala, at the scene of a marijuana growing operation with more than 1,500 plants on Aug. 25, 2010. The shooting allegedly stemmed from an argument over payment and supplies that started when Wilde informed Juarez-Madrid, Fernandez and another man -- all his employees -- that he would no longer be providing them with food at the remote grow site where they were living, which was located about two miles from the Kneeland Cal Fire air station.

On Tuesday -- at what was scheduled to be the beginning of Wilde's preliminary hearing -- District Attorney Paul Gallegos told Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson that he planned on calling Fernandez and another man, Chris Bigelow, to testify. Gallegos suggested that both men be appointed attorneys by the court and said he would be entering into immunity agreements with the witnesses because he expected them to testify about their roles in a marijuana cultivation operation and there may be issues regarding self-incrimination.

◼ Horror - Fight over supplies led to shooting Sep. 21. 2010
◼ Fight over supplies led to shooting TS
◼ The details emerge - Marijuana grow operation shooting leaves one dead, one wounded near Kneeland; 28-year-old man held on suspicion of murder, investigation remains ongoing Aug. 27, 2010
◼ ...four gunshot victims... UPDATES on Blogthing Aug. 26, 2010