An all-female jury heard opening statements Monday in the trial of four men accused of gang raping and viciously beating a young woman at a Half Moon Bay beach two years ago.

Edgar Cardelas, 20, Anastasio Flores, 21, Celestino Guillermo, 23, and Gerardo Resendiz, 18, are each charged with kidnapping during the course of a sexual assault, gang rape, assault with a deadly weapon, terrorist threats and intimidating a witness. The men, who are being tried together, have pleaded not guilty.

Opening statements and the prosecution case began yesterday after days of pre-trial motions, including defense requests to introduce the victim’s prior sexual history.

According to police and prosecution reports, on May 29, 2005, the 21-year-old woman was walking home with bags of groceries when the group offered her a ride. Instead, they allegedly took her to Miramontes Point Beach Trail where she was raped and beaten repeatedly. She sustained multiple serious injuries, including facial fractures.

Prosecutors took the case to the criminal grand jury rather than hold a preliminary hearing on the evidence. The action was thought to speed up the process. After two days of evidence, the grand jury indicted the men in early January 2006.

Prosecutors chose to try Resendiz as an adult though he was only 16 at the time of the May 29 incident. If convicted, all defendants face life in prison under the state’s one-strike rule for sexual assault.

Each remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail. The prosecution continues its case today.

Lip-biting suspect confirms trial

The 54-year-old South San Francisco man who allegedly bit off his wife’s bottom life after she called him a short man and shoved aside their teenage daughter who tried to intervene will stand trial in June after declining a plea bargain offer.

Akano Nzerem confirmed his trial on felony charges of domestic violence, mayhem, false imprisonment, battery, criminal threats and misdemeanor counts of violating a court order and child endangerment, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

South San Francisco police arrested Nzerem Jan. 24 after his wife of 17 years reportedly told police he punched her repeatedly and threw a bottle because she told a friend he was acting strangely.

Their 16-year-old daughter — one of six children in the family —  tried stepping between them but was reportedly tossed aside. Nzerem then allegedly grabbed his wife in a bear hug and bit off her lip.

After his arrest, Nzerem reportedly told police he had to bite her lip off because she called him a short man and attacked him, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Nzerem’s wife is standing by her husband and discounts police reports of his pushing their daughter. She said the extent of her injuries has been exaggerated by authorities and the arrest cost him his job as a pharmacy technician at San Francisco General Hospital, she said.

He is free from custody on a $500,000 bail bond and is scheduled for trial June 11. He returns to court May 30 for hearings on motions to dismiss the case and suppress evidence.