Pretrial motions began today ahead of jury selection in the trial of a 48-year-old Coachella Valley man accused of gunning down a motel guest during an altercation in Riverside.
Robert Donald Intong of Desert Hot Springs was arrested in 2021 following a Riverside Police Department investigation into the slaying of 31-year-old Cole William Birchard. Intong is charged with first-degree murder and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
On Monday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Sam Shouka ruled on defense and prosecution motions related to evidence, witnesses, jury questionnaires and scheduling…