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Trial begins for Michaele Bowers, the woman accused of killing J's Place chef in 2017

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The trial for Michaele Bowers, the woman accused of killing J's Place chef Ray Ingram in 2017, began Thursday.

Back in April, felony first degree murder charges were re-filed against Bowers by the Kern County District Attorney. Prior to the refiling, the judge declared a mistrial in the case after the jury was deadlocked.

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According to a source close to the case, a mistrial was declared due to juror obstruction. Both prosecutor John Allen and Bowers' defense attorney David A. Torres denied juror obstruction was a factor.

Court documents show that Bowers and Ingram had a child together and Bowers found out Ingram had been seeing another woman. Documents also showed that he had a child with the other woman as well.

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The morning of the killing police said that Bowers texted Ingram a picture of a receipt showing he had purchased two sets of Valentine's gifts, essentially the same gift for each woman.

Bowers is due back in court Friday at 9:30 a.m.

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