Selena Forever

The Selena Trial

The Houston Chronicles Files

Saldivar in Houston

Copyright 1995 Houston Chronicle

AUSTIN -- Travis County commissioners are willing to pay $100,000 to settle a federal lawsuit against Sheriff Terry Keel, accused of abusing his power in a high-profile investigation of a 1994 baby murder.

Yolanda Saldivar, the accused killer of Tejano music star Selena, was transferred Tuesday from her jail cell in Corpus Christi to Houston, where she faces trial next week. "She is now in the Harris County Jail," said a Nueces County Jail official, who declined to give his name. Saldivar, 35, is charged with the March 31 shooting death of Selena Quintanilla Perez. The shooting occurred at a Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi as Selena tried to pick up business records from Saldivar, who managed one of the singer's dress boutiques. She came into Selena's life a few years before, when she approached her about organizing a fan club for the star. The trial, expected to last two weeks, begins Monday.

Selena's father sued

SAN ANTONIO -- An upcoming book and movie about Selena's life has prompted a lawsuit by a newspaper reporter who contends he has a contract for the authorship.

Ramiro Burr, a San Antonio Express-News entertainment writer, filed suit Monday against the slain Tejano singer's father and manager, the family's recording studio, a book publisher and a Los Angeles production company.

Abraham Quintanilla Jr. has picked a California-based author, Victor Villasenor, to write his story about his daughter's life to be published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc.

Larry Macon, attorney for Burr, said an agreement Quintanilla signed on Aug. 21 granted Burr the book deal, for a $25,000 fee, that was to be the basis of a movie about the life of Selena Quintanilla Perez.

Quintanilla's production company in Corpus Christi called the legal action "frivolous" and based on incorrect information.