A San Leandro man accused of beating his wife to death with a hammer inside her San Francisco hair salon in 2007 will stand trial for murder, a judge ruled today.
Jeff Nguyen, 42, reported finding the body of his wife, 37-year-old Mai Banh, inside Le Petit Salon at 1325 Chestnut St. in the city’s Marina District on April 15, 2007. It was later determined she had been killed the day before.
Nguyen was arrested on April 25 after homicide inspectors found evidence inside the couple’s garage that appeared to contradict his initial statement to police denying any involvement.
After his arrest, Nguyen admitted to attacking Banh after he learned she had a boyfriend and intended to divorce him, police said.
At the conclusion of a preliminary hearing today, Judge Carol Yaggy ordered Nguyen to stand trial on one count of murder with the allegation of use of a deadly weapon.
He is scheduled for arraignment in superior court on July 9.
