CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / SAN DIEGO
The son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, and three other defendants, were ordered Wednesday to stand trial on murder charges in the Oct. 4 stabbing death of a Mesa College student.
San Diego County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Basant made the ruling after a weeklong preliminary hearing. Esteban Nunez, 20; Rafael Garcia, 19; Ryan Jett, 23; and Leshanor Thomas, 23, are accused of attacking Luis Santos after a night of drinking at parties near San Diego State.
Prosecutors say the four attacked Santos out of anger at being rebuffed in their attempt to crash a fraternity party. Defense attorneys argue that the four were acting in self-defense during a street brawl.
Nunez and Garcia remain free on bail.
-- Tony Perry
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
