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Professor says she was intimidated by defendant to ID victim

FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2013, file photo, Norma Esparza watches during a news conference in Santa Ana, Calif. Trial is set to start in Southern California for a man charged with the 1995 murder of another man after his then-girlfriend, Esparza, pointed him out as her rapist. Opening statements are scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2015,in the Orange County trial of 45-year-old Gianni Van. His former girlfriend Esparza, 40, a psychology professor who now lives and teaches in France, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in an agreement with prosecutors last year. She’s expected to testify at the trial. (Bruce Chambers/The Orange County Register via AP) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT MBI
FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2013, file photo, Norma Esparza watches during a news conference in Santa Ana, Calif. Trial is set to start in Southern California for a man charged with the 1995 murder of another man after his then-girlfriend, Esparza, pointed him out as her rapist. Opening statements are scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2015,in the Orange County trial of 45-year-old Gianni Van. His former girlfriend Esparza, 40, a psychology professor who now lives and teaches in France, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in an agreement with prosecutors last year. She’s expected to testify at the trial. (Bruce Chambers/The Orange County Register via AP) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT MBI FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2013, file photo, Norma Esparza watches during a news conference in Santa Ana, Calif. Trial is set to start in Southern California for a man charged with the 1995 murder of another man after his then-girlfriend, Esparza, pointed him out as her rapist. Opening statements are scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2015,in the Orange County trial of 45-year-old Gianni Van. His former girlfriend Esparza, 40, a psychology professor who now lives and teaches in France, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in an agreement with prosecutors last year. She’s expected to testify at the trial. (Bruce Chambers/The Orange County Register via AP) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT MBI

By Associated Press 1 min read

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) – A professor testifying in a cold-case trial in Southern California says she was intimidated into identifying her rapist to the man now charged with killing him in 1995.

Norma Esparza, who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the case and agreed to testify, said in court Thursday that her ex-boyfriend, Gianni Van, was outraged when he heard about the assault and demanded that she find and point out Gonzalo Ramirez at the bar where she met him.

Van is now charged with the murder of Ramirez. Prosecutors allege Van and friends kidnapped and beat Ramirez and left him by the roadside.

Esparza said she didn’t know what Van and his friends would do once they found Ramirez.