A judge ordered a 19-year-old man April 28 to stand trial for murder and torture of a young man who was chased and stabbed 31 times at an Eastlake townhome complex in 2015.
Three police officers and some neighbors of the victim, Carlos Gutierrez, 18, testified in the preliminary hearing of the alleged attacker, Saul Johnathan Orozco, before Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Ana Espana.
Deputy District Attorney Kristi Hein said Orozco chased Gutierrez for 100 yards outside Gutierrez’s home with a kitchen knife on Aug. 4, 2015. Gutierrez called for help and was bleeding heavily after being repeatedly stabbed in the 2800 block of Cielo Circulo.
Attorney Jo Anne Tyrell, who represents Orozco, unsuccessfully sought to dismiss the torture charge.
“Most murders involve pain, but this does not rise to torture,” said Tyrell.
Espana said she reviewed jury instructions for the crime of torture and believed the allegations were true.
“We don’t know what started the actual incident,” said Espana. “He was stabbing (him) along the way.”
Deputy Medical Examiner Jacquelyn Morhaime said the combination of all the stab wounds caused his death. She said Gutierrez’s arm was broken, and the knife penetrated his skull. She said he died within minutes after the injuries were inflicted.
Gutierrez and Orozco were acquainted in high school.
Chula Vista homicide detectives answered a radio call at 5:44 p.m. and Gutierrez was found at a nearby house. Others saw a man running from the crime scene while covered with blood. Officers used a police dog to arrest Orozco.
Orozco had some minor stab wounds on his hands and was treated at a hospital before taken to jail, where he remains on $2 million bail. He has pleaded not guilty and Espana ordered him to next appear in court on June 30.
