Oceanside

Bail for murder suspect John Burrus remained at $500,000 after an unsuccessful bid by his attorney to have it reduced to $50,000, as well as a counterproposal by the San Diego County district attorney’s office that it be increased to $1 million.

Defense attorney Herb Weston argued that, since Burrus had kept in contact with homicide investigators after the 1990 slaying of his wife of 31 years, Grace Burrus, he should be trusted with a reduced bail.

But prosecutor Garrett Randall countered that, when Burrus was arrested in Alaska, where he owns apartments, he had in his possession an Alaska driver’s license with his photograph but a different name. Burrus was prepared to flee from prosecution, Randall argued.

Vista Superior Court Judge Thomas J. Whelan ordered Burrus’ bail to remain unchanged.

Burrus is charged with the first-degree murder of his wife nine days before their scheduled divorce trial. Prosecutors allege he bludgeoned her to death in her Oceanside apartment, then sent her car, containing her body, over the side of a cliff along County Highway S-22 near Borrego Springs, hoping the death would be seen as an accident.