A judge has ordered a man to stand trial for two murders and special circumstance allegations in the stabbing deaths of two homeless men in Otay Mesa.
Ricardo Valles, 52, was to appear Nov. 30 in Chula Vista Superior Court to schedule a trial date. He is charged with killing Curtis Murray, 56, and Albert Stringer, 61, on May 17 at 3410 Palm Avenue in front of a closed ice cream shop.
Judge Ana Espana heard witnesses in a two-day preliminary hearing that ended on Nov. 15. A deputy medical examiner testified Murray had three knife wounds to his chest and other wounds to his arms and hands. Stringer was stabbed twice. Both victims were friends with each other.
Deputy District Attorney Victor Ou said Valles did not know the two men. There was no testimony in the hearing about motive, said Ou. Many witnesses were San Diego Police officers.
The special circumstance of committing multiple murders was filed against Valles and that means the DA’s office can consider seek the death penalty or a life term in prison if Valles is convicted. Ou said no decision about penalty has been made.
An officer on patrol at 2:45 a.m. saw the two males whom he initially thought were sleeping. When he tried to contact the men, he discovered they were dead with visible stab wounds.
On May 23, officers located Valles at the intersection of Palm Avenue and Beyer Way and arrested him. Valles remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility without bail. He has pleaded not guilty.
