The wife of an actor known for his role on "The Shield" was having an affair before she was fatally shot by her husband last year and a jury should be told about it, a judge ruled Friday.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Perry ruled that the affair should be mentioned to potential jurors and will be discussed during the upcoming trial against Michael Jace, but not in great detail.
"I think the fact of the affair has some value to the search for the truth here," Perry said. The judge said he would likely not allow details about the length of the affair, or who April Jace was involved with, to be discussed during the trial.
"I'm not going to let the affair consume the trial," Perry said.
Jace's attorney, Jamon Hicks, said he planned to keep the focus on his client's intent before the May 19 killing in the Jaces' Los Angeles home.
"It is not the defense's intention to assassinate the character of the victim in this case," Hicks said after the hearing. "This is not a 'who-done-it' murder. This case is about whether Mr. Jace premeditated the killing or whether he snapped while in the heat of passion."
Jace shot his wife in their Los Angeles home on May 19, 2014, while their two young sons were present.