College Student Accused of 'Revenge Murder' Plots Remains Jailed in Banning

An April 14 trial date was set this week for a former UC Riverside student accused of plotting to kill two ex-boyfriends for breaking up with her.

[RELATED:  See KTLA's coverage of Wu's arrest from August in above video]

Barbara Wu, 22, was arrested last May following a UC Riverside police investigation that allegedly uncovered instances in which the defendant had sought to have the two men killed.

Wu is charged with two counts each of solicitation to commit murder, stalking and vandalism, as well as one count each of witness intimidation and willful harassment. If convicted, she could face more than 20 years behind bars.

During a status conference Wednesday at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Matthew Perantoni tentatively scheduled trial proceedings to get underway the second week of April after the prosecution and defense agreed to clear their calendars. However, the judge set an intervening hearing for March 18 to confirm both sides are on track.

Wu is being held at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning in lieu of $500,000 bail.

During a preliminary hearing last August, Wu's two alleged targets, both of whom are identified in court documents as John Doe, testified about their experiences with the defendant, whom one of the men characterized as volatile and persistent in pushing to get what she wanted.

He alleged the high school honor roll student asked him to kidnap and kill her former boyfriend -- who broke up with her via email -- and dispose of the body.

According to the witness, Wu wanted to torture the former beau by sticking needles into his fingertips while he was bound and gagged.

When the witness related the conversation to police, they asked him to wear a wire and record his next encounter with Wu, during which she allegedly incriminated herself, according to testimony.

According to the District Attorney's Office, the first alleged victim came forward after the case became public, telling investigators that he believed he was the intended target. The man alleged that while he was dating the defendant in 2009 and 2010, she expressed a desire to kill yet another former boyfriend and tried to enlist him to carry out the crime.

– City News Service.