San Diego

A judge ruled Monday that Joselito Cinco will go on trial in Santa Ana on charges that he killed two San Diego police officers near Balboa Park last year.

San Diego Superior Court Judge William Low last week granted the change of venue for Cinco, 26, of Spring Valley, but took under submission the location for the trial.

Cinco’s attorney, John Cotsirilos, said he preferred Riverside because he had practiced there for three years, but Deputy Dist. Atty. Howard Shore said he strongly preferred Orange County.

Cinco is charged with murder in the Sept. 14, 1984, slayings of Kimberly Tonahill, 24, of La Mesa, and Timothy Ruopp, 31, of San Diego, and with wounding officer Gary Mitrovich, 26, who responded to the shootings.

Low said he thought the trial should be held in Orange County because it is larger than Riverside and would provide a “broader base” for jury selection.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Cinco could face the death penalty, depending on the recommendation of the jury in a penalty phase that would follow the trial.

Shore said more than 100 witnesses would be called in the trial, which is expected to last six months, and the DA’s office plans to house them overnight in motels so they won’t be tired from driving on the day they are to testify.

Low set an Aug. 21 arraignment in Santa Ana Superior Court for Cinco. A trial date will be set then. He ordered Cinco transported from County Jail downtown to a jail in Orange County.

Cotsirilos brought the motion to have the trial moved due to pretrial publicity after surveys showed that a majority of the public perceived Cinco to be guilty of the killings.