Man, Mother to Stand Trial in Alleged Murder-for-Hire Plot

Francis Noble and his mother June Pickard face charges in the alleged murder-for-hire plot

An El Cajon man and his mother were ordered to stand trial in an alleged murder-for-hire plot.

Francis Noble, 31, and June Pickard,, 57, face charges of conspiring to kill Noble's wife for financial gain.

Investigators say it was "mind-boggling" when they learned that a friend of Noble's was asked to take part in the plot to kill his wife of three years. 

At a pretrial hearing Monday, Chris Brag testified that Pickard offered him cash to kill Rita Mansour, Pickard's daughter-in-law and Noble's wife.

Mansour also testified at the preliminary hearing saying she and Noble had a difficult marriage, but always made-up after fighting.

But investigators say Mansour's mother-in-law hated her, and took action to get her killed.

Pickard allegedly meet with Bragg outside the El Cajon Wal-Mart where she gave him money, personal information about Mansour, and photographs of her.

Bragg testified that Pickard asked him about putting laundry detergent in the gas tank of Mansour's car to blow up the vehicle.

Bragg told Pickard that wouldn't work.

Bragg testified that Pickard discussed other ways of killing her daughter-in-law, including shooting, and stabbing, or throwing her body in a wood chipper, to dispose of the evidence.

Bragg said that Pickard offered him a $1,000r down-payment, with future payments, if he would kill Mansour.

The witness testified that he went to police after talking with Pickard.

An undercover detective also took the stand today, and testified the defendants were financially motivated as well believing the alleged victim had $80,000 in her bank account.

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