WARREN — The murder trial of Claudia Hoerig got off to a contentious start this morning when her attorney brought up a theft conviction against a sheriff’s deputy who was the lead investigator in the case.

Defense attorney David Rouzzo asked former Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Peter Pizzulo if the other investigators were aware that Pizzulo was stealing from a charity at the time of the murder investigation.

After an objection raised by prosecutors, and a sidebar with the Common Pleas Court Judge Andrew D. Logan, Rouzzo continued the line of questioning and Pizzulo said he didn’t know that what he was doing was stealing.

He was convicted May 15, 2009, of a fourth-degree grand theft charge, given 30 days in the Geauga County Jail and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,500.

The record was expunged in 2016.

This is the second day of testimony in the trial, which is expected to last into next week.

Hoerig faces life in prison in connection to the March 12, 2007, shooting death of her then-husband Maj. Karl Hoerig in the couple’s Newton Falls home. Claudia Hoerig flew to her native Brazil that same day.

She was extradited a year ago to stand trial.

On Wednesday, the first day of testimony, defense attorney John Cornely said Hoerig, 54, admits to shooting her husband, but argued it happened when she was distraught and preparing to kill herself, not the result of a pre-planned plot to murder the pilot who was 43.

He characterized it as more of an accident when she meant to commit suicide.

Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said in his opening statement that the facts don’t match that story. He said the facts show intent to kill with calculated planning.

Trial updates will be posted throughout the day on www.tribtoday.com.