attorneys for two sides agree that in april 1995 , a 24-year-old man who had been pointed out by a southern california college student as her rapist had his truck rear-ended before he was kidnapped , brutally beaten and killed .
where they differ is on the role of now-45-year-old gianni van in the murder of f gonzalo ramirez , whose blindfolded , bloodied body was found on the side of a road .
at the opening of his trial wednesday , prosecutors said van was enraged after his ex-girlfriend norma patricia esparza told him ramirez raped her and he must be held responsible for the attack .