A Santa Clarita widow testified against her husband’s killer Thursday at the Van Nuys Courthouse after the alleged killer was accused of murdering her husband at VIP Showgirls in West Hollywood in July.

Prosecutors presented a security video from the club that was taken the night of July 15, 2011, that showed the death of Thomas Valdez, who was shot twice in the head by Romanta Forte. Forte, who chose to represent himself in court, claimed the incident to be self defense, saying Valdez had come to the club to kill him. Valdez’s and Forte’s wives both worked as strippers at the Gentlemen’s Club and the two men had been sending threatening text messages to one another weeks before Valdez’s death.

“I will kill your children.” said Forte in a text message to Valdez, which was presented in court. “I will kill your wife and I will make you watch before I kill you.”

According to Forte, Valdez was conspiring against him and Forte had gone to the club because Valdez had threatened to kidnap and kill his wife. Forte stated that Valdez’s wife had informed her husband when Forte had entered the club and security guards had let Valdez, as well as several of his friends, through the club’s back door to kill him. Valdez, who had a knife in his pocket, lunged towards Forte when he saw him, punching him in the face. Forte shot Valdez in the cheek, then proceeded to violently kick and beat him with his gun. He shot him a second time to the head, killing him instantly. Forte claimed that the second shot was an accident and that the gun misfired when he picked it up off the floor. Forte took his wife and left the club, fleeing to a nearby park, where he was arrested.

Ani Abranyan, Valdez’s wife, testified that Forte had become hostile toward her and her husband after a BBQ that he attended at their home. Forte was insulted that they had invited an African American to the party and verbally attacked him using racial slurs. Abranyan stated that soon after the BBQ Forte began threatening her when she would pick up his wife for work. She stated that once Valdez confronted him about it, Forte began sending threatening text messages to Valdez, saying he was going to kill his family. The day of Valdez’s murder, his wife was working at the club when he allegedly received a phone call from Forte saying that he was going to kill his wife on stage. Valdez called his wife and said he was coming to the club to protect her. Abranyan told the club’s security to not let her husband in because she didn’t want the two men to fight, but he pushed his way past the guard at the back door. During his cross examination, Forte questioned Abranyan about her marriage, showing text messages between the couple discussing divorce. Forte also asked Abranyan about Valdez’s violent past, discussing his previous gang associations, as well as reported domestic violence between the couple. Abranyan became emotional during Forte’s questioning and the judge ended Forte’s questioning after he was accused of arguing with the witness.