LAKEPORT ? A Clear Lake Riviera man appeared in court Monday and is scheduled for a jury trial on the charge of murdering his roommate.
John Gray will return to court 8:15 a.m. Dec. 2 and two more times before he goes to trial 8:15 a.m. Dec. 15.
Gray allegedly bludgeoned Eric Joaquin to death Feb. 28 in Gray”s house in Clear Lake Riviera.
“He says someone else did it,” District Attorney Jon Hopkins said.
The prosecution doesn”t have witnesses to the crime but has circumstantial evidence and is waiting on test results, Hopkins said. If evidence points away from Gray, Hopkins won”t go forward with the case.
“Somebody was trying to reach Joaquin by phone, but was unsuccessful,” Hopkins said of Feb. 28. “They drove over to his house and discovered him.”
Officers found Gray at his girlfriend”s house in the Clear Lake Riviera and arrested him the day Joaquin”s body was found, Hopkins said.
Gray pleaded not guilty in July. In September, his family offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person they believe to be the actual perpetrator.
Gray is being held at the Lake County Jail on $500,000 bail.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
