AS I LAY DYING Frontman Ordered To Stand Trial In Murder-For-Hire Case

AS I LAY DYING frontman Tim Lambesis has been ordered to stand trial on charges he tried to hire someone to kill his estranged wife.

At the conclusion of a court hearing earlier today at San Diego Superior Court in Vista, California, San Diego Superior Court Judge Robert Kearney ruled that there was sufficient evidence for the case to go to trial.

Prosecutors allege Lambesis had twice told a man at a gym that he wanted his wife killed, then met with an undercover detective known as "Red", and gave the agent an envelope containing $1,000 in cash, photographs of his wife, and the security gate code to her house. He also allegedly told the agent the dates he would be with the couple's three adopted children, in order to give himself an alibi.

A number of witnesses testified for the prosecution during today's hearing, including the undercover officer who posed as a hitman. The officer explained that Lambesis told him, "Just to clarify, just so you know, I do want her dead."

Investigators say the undercover cop operation was staged after Lambesis told a man at his gym at Pure Fitness back on April 23 that he wanted his wife killed. Lambesis was allegedly complaining that she was making life difficult for him, that it was hard for him to see his children and that it was impossible for them to complete their divorce.

"[Lambesis said that] he wasn't allowed to visit his kids, he wasn't allowed to see his kids, he wasn't allowed to take his kids out of the state to go on tour with him, and that angered him," the undercover officer testified. "And the fact that his wife was gonna get a large portion — up to 60 percent — of his income [as part of a divorce settlement]."

Lambesis will be arraigned on the charges October 22, which is when a date for his trial will be set.

A video report on today's hearing from CBS8.com can be seen below.