Le Murder Suspect Waives Right to Appear

A Union City woman charged with murdering missing nursing student Michelle Le waived her right to appear in court this morning.

Originally scheduled to enter a plea at 9 a.m., Giselle Esteban, 27, will appear at the Hayward Hall of Justice again at 9 a.m. on Sept. 19.

A public defender made a special appearance on Esteban's behalf shortly after 10 a.m. this morning. He said he had not yet received the discovery material from prosecutors and could not enter a plea.

He also said that a reassignment of counsel maybe be required if Esteban is determined to be financially ineligible, or if a conflict of interest is found.

Relatives of Esteban made their first public appearance in the court room but declined to speak with reporters. 

Esteban was in the killing of Le, a former friend of Esteban's who disappeared more than three months ago. She was outside the Monte Vista condominiums where she lives in Union City.

Hayward police believe Esteban is the lone suspect in the disappearance of Le. The missing 26-year-old San Mateo resident was last seen leaving Hayward Kaiser hospital, where she was attending clinical rotations as a nursing student, around 7 p.m. on May 27.

Le had told classmates she was picking something up from her car, which was parked inside the hospital's parking garage. She never returned.

During a press conference last week, police announced that numerous sources of compelling evidence, including DNA evidence, surveillance footage and cell phone records, has led them to believe that Esteban is "responsible for Michelle's demise.” 

Le's body has not been found, nor has a murder weapon.

Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Michael Nieto did not comment on the case in court this morning, but told Patch last week that prosecutors have enough evidence to take the case to trial.

"We wouldn't have filed the charges if we didn't think there was evidence beyond a reasonable doubt," Nieto said.

Le's relatives once again stressed that their primary concern is to find Le and bring her home.

A search party will be held this weekend in a continued effort to locate Le or any evidence leading to her whereabouts. More details are expected later in the week.