By Khalida Sarwari
A wireless expert today closed out the second week of testimony in the trial of a Palo Alto hookah lounge owner accused of strangling his girlfriend and setting her body ablaze.
Jim Cook, a wireless expert who assists law enforcement in San Jose and San Diego, testified in the trial of Bulos “Paul” Zumot, the 37-year-old owner of Da Hookah Spot charged with murder and arson in connection with the death of 29-year-old real estate agent Jennifer Schipsi.
Prosecutors claim the couple had a history of domestic abuse and that Zumot killed Schipsi and then set their Addison Avenue home on fire with her body inside on Oct. 15, 2009.
The pair had reportedly gotten into a fight the previous night following a dinner celebrating Zumot’s 36th birthday in Sunnyvale.
Much of the trial evidence to date has centered on cell phone data. Cook began testifying Thursday and gave a presentation about how cell phones work. He continued his testimony today, showing an analysis of Zumot and Schipsi’s AT&T phone bills, including call detail records and patterns of activity for both phones.
Under cross-examination, defense attorney Mark Geragos accused Cook of presenting information that did not match AT&T’s records of Zumot and Schipsi’s phone bills.
Earlier this week, Palo Alto police Sgt. Cornelius Maloney revealed a transcript of the couple’s text message exchange following Zumot’s birthday dinner.
In one of the texts, Schipsi wrote, “You are nothing but a selfish cold-hearted ungrateful human being scam artist liar.”
Zumot faces a maximum sentence of 33 years to life if convicted.
The trial will resume Jan. 24.